Toothless Chiefs rack up another draw
by KickOff Reporter · KickOffKaizer Chiefs were unable to return to winning ways in the Betway Premiership following a goalless draw against Golden Arrows on Sunday afternoon.
Following a disappointing draw at Polokwane City, the Amakhosi were eager to get back to winning ways to remain in touching distance with the top-three and avenge the MTN8 loss by Abafana Besthende who searched for their second league win of the season.
Chiefs showed a lot of promise in the opening stages and were very close to unlocking the visitors when a cutback outside the box following a second-ball picked out Lebohang Maboe, who fired over.
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The Amakhosi then lost focus and were sliced open as Thokozani Khumalo made a run down the right on the overlap to tuck-in and crossed for Sede Dion to go in on the volley, but debutant Renaldo Leaner met him emphatically.
Chiefs continued to have the better of the chances and drew a foul in the box courtesy of Faiz Abrahams to win a penalty on the half-hour mark, but Maboe was unable to capitalise and saw his spot-kick saved by Thakasani Mbanjwa.
Second Half:
The Amakhosi made a lively start to the second half, with persistent attacks from all angles but couldn’t break down the host who remained steadfast and remained a threat on the counter-attack.
Abafana Besthende did come alive a little later after a pin-point delivery in the box found the head of Nqubeko Dlamini, but the midfielder’s dipped over goal and beyond the reach of Leaner.
Chiefs coach Fernando da Cruz decided to refresh his stall in the 60th minute and in came Mduduzi Shabalala for Abrahams before Tanzanian-born Adolf Mtasingwa replaced Maboe.
The Amakhosi were in control later on and looked to seal the winner with a half-volley from the area by Mfundo Vilakazi following a delivery, but the upright denied the starlet with Mbanjwa in a spot of bother.
Abafana Besthende though almost snatched the victory in the last minute through a close-range effort from substitute Alwande Booysen following a cross from the left, but he dragged wide across the face of goal and goalless it ended in Mbombela.