Polokwane City fight back to hold Kaizer Chiefs

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Saturday Feb 23, 2019. 17:42

Polokwane City and Kaizer Chiefs drew 1-1 in an Absa Premiership match at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

As a result, Rise and Shine remained eighth on the league table, while Amakhosi moved up to sixth spot.

The encounter got off to a lively start as Chiefs were awarded a penalty when Nicholas Motloung was adjudged to have handled the ball in the Polokwane box.

Daniel Cardoso then stepped up and he converted from the spot-kick to make it 1-0 to Chiefs in the 14th - scoring his third goal in as many matches.

However, the lead only lasted for six minutes as Rise and Shine levelled matters through hard-working attacker Walter Musona.

The Zimbabwean attacker scored with a powerful long-range shot to make it 1-1 - silencing the Amakhosi fans inside the stadium.

Chiefs tried to respond with a goal, but they could not get their shots on target as Siphelele Ntshangase fired wide from a set-piece.

Hendrick Ekstein then failed to score from close range and the two teams were locked at 1-1 at the interval following a lively first-half.

Rise and Shine were able to contain Amakhosi in the first 10 minutes of the second half and German coach Ernst Middendorp decided to make a change.

The Chiefs gaffer pulled out Philani Zulu and he introduced Ramahlwe Mphahlele four minutes before the hour-mark.

Amakhosi had a chance to restore their lead in the 70th minute, but Sibusiso Mbonani made a crucial clearance before Dumisani Zuma could shoot at goal.

Chiefs piled pressure on Polokwane in the closing stages of the game, but goalkeeper George Chigova produced a great save to deny Zuma - ensuring that the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Polokwane (1) 1 (Musona 20')
Chiefs (1) (Cardoso 14')

Polokwane: Chigova, Mvelase, Hlongwane, Mbonani, Motloung, Seabi, Phiri, Musona (Manaka 80'), Maluleke, Mashumba (Mngomezulu 66'), Booi (Anas 84').

Chiefs: Akpeyi, Moleko, Hadebe, Cardoso, Ntyiya-Ntiya (Moon 82'), Ntshangase, Maluleka, Ekstein (Zuma 46'), Zulu (Mphahlele 56'), Parker, Billiat.