Four-goal thriller stuns Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs couldn’t make it ten Absa Premiership wins out of ten when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Maritzburg United at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The Amakhosi had to fight their way back twice to salvage a point as Ryan De Jongh and Bhongolwethu Jayiya got on the scorehseet for the home side.

The Team Choice had the perfect start to the game when Erick Mathoho’s clearance fell as far as Ryan De Jongh. The midfielder connected to it on the first touch and struck a powerful effort which struck the inside of the post and fell into the back of the net after just a minute of play.

But four minutes later Chiefs found themselves back level when Shu-Aib Walters turned a long-range shot onto the crossbar. The Cape Town-born ‘keeper couldn’t do much about the rebound as Kingston Nkhatha got onto the end of it and tapped it in from close range.

It could have been 2-1 for the visitors in the 17^th minute.  Chiefs were denied by the gloves of Walters, who was at full stretch to push away Siboniso Gaxa’s glancing effort.

Bhongolwethu Jayiya went agonisingly close ten minutes later with his long-range shot which skimmed just inches over the crossbar.

Maritzburg found themselves back in the lead after 34 minutes of play after Gordinho handed them a penalty from a foul on Kurt Lenjies inside the box. Jayiya stood up to take the kick and he did so with precision, beating Itumeleng Khune in goal.

Walters brilliantly denied Tefu Mashamaite at the back post ten minutes after the interval. A cross was supplied to the defender into the box and he sent in a glancing header which the ‘keeper did well to push out.

Stuart Baxter introduced two new faces after the hour mark with Katlego Mphela coming off the bench for his debut, along with George Lebese, who replaced Knowledge Musona.

Maritzburg were looking in control for the majority of the second period but couldn’t do anything when Mashamaite turned in a ball with a glancing header to make it 2-2 ten minutes from time to set up a grand finale.

Mphela nearly wrapped it up just 120 seconds later with his stinging shot which kissed the side netting,

No one was able to find the decisive goal needed to win the encounter as Chiefs’ run of nine consecutive wins was brought to an end.

Maritzburg United: (2) 2 (De Jongh 2’, Jayiya  (pen) 34’)

Kaizer Chiefs: (1) 2 (Nkatha 6’, Mashamaite 79)

Maritzburg United: Walters, M.Booysen, D Booysen, Cloete, Evans, Morton, De Jongh, Jayiya, Lentjies (Nkosi 75’), Isaacks (Mkhize 85’), Sekotlong (Buckley 70’)

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Gaxa, Mathoho, Mashamaite, Gordinho, Katsande, Letsholonyane, Tshabalala, Musona (Lebese 65’), Nkhatha (Mphela 65’), Parker

Backpage Media