Amakhosi held By Wits On Return To Action.

Kaizer Chiefs            (1) 1  (Nurković 36’)

BIDVest Wits           (0) 1 (Alexander 89’)

Kaizer Chiefs return to action after a 159-day hiatus saw them play out to a 1-1 draw against Bidvest Wits at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday evening in an Absa Premiership clash.

Chiefs had taken the lead in the 36^th minute through Samir Nurković as he scored his 12^th league goal of the season. There was late heartache for Chiefs as they conceded an equaliser through Cole Alexander in the final minute of normal time.

Chiefs conjured up the first chance of the game in the 5^th minute as Wits were unable to deal with a corner form the right by Nkosingiphile Ngcobo. Mulomowandau Mathoho rose above the defence to meet the ball with a glancing header, which went wide of goal. Willard Katsande attempted to hack the ball back towards goal but was unable to make clean contact with the ball.

Chiefs continued pressing and in the 14^th minute, a wonderful long raking pass from Yagan Saman from the left was floated deep into the visitors’ penalty area, where Nurković managed to race away from his marker Lorenzo Gordinho and powerfully headed the ball goal wards. It took an acrobatic leap in the air from Ricardo Goss to prevent the ball going in as he pushed the ball over the cross bar for a corner.

Five minutes on, Chiefs tested the Wits keeper again as Lebogang Manyama a curled an angled free kick from the left towards goal. It took a leap into the air from Goss to punch the ball clear to avert the danger.

With 9 minutes to go to halftime, Chiefs went ahead. It took some good work by Nurković initially to win a corner on the right after tussling with Gordinho, from the resulting corner, the ball was floated in where Nurković timed his run to perfection. He ran between two Wits players, Terence Dzvukamanja and Cole Alexander to head the ball across goal and past the despairing lunge of Goss as Chiefs went ahead. With the Serbian striker notching his 12^th league goal of the season and Manyama who took the corner making his 9^th assist in league games for the season.

In the 40^th minute, Goss came off his line to clear the ball but a mix up in the Wits defence saw Chiefs take advantage with the ball being played out to Nurković. Wits’ best chance of the game came in the first half’s stoppage time. Akpeyi dropped a long-range free kick into the path of on rushing Wits players the ball eventually found Alexander who volleyed the ball goal wards. Kgotso Moleko was on hand to head the danger and clear it. Chiefs were able to clear their lines and went into the halftime break 1-0 ahead.

Five minutes after the restart, it took some quick thinking from Chiefs goalkeeper Akpeyi and defender Mathoho to stop a close range shot from Eva Nga after he had done well to control a pass from Phathutshedzo Nange before his effort on goal was blocked.

In the 53^rd minute, Yagan Sasman found himself in acres of space down the left and managed to roll the ball into Leonardo Castro’s path. He glided into the Wits 18 -yard area and left two defenders including Thulani Hlatshwayo in his wake. As he bore down on goal, he tried to curl the ball round Goss, but the Wits keeper managed to make a fine stop to deny Chiefs going two nil up.

Just past the hour mark, Chiefs were on the attack again with Katsande sending the ball agonizingly over the Wits crossbar. In the 87^th minute Chiefs had the ball in the back of the net after a neat interchange of passing. The goal was ruled out for offside. But television replays did show that the decision was a harsh one.

A minute after that, a quick break from Chiefs saw Bernard Parker play Nurković into space. He raced on goal and attempted to lob the ball off Goss and managed to do so, but his effort rattled the cross bar and Wits survived. Wits found an equaliser in the final minutes after Alexander made contact with a cross from the right by Kgaogelo Sekgota, as he volleyed the ball past Akpeyi to draw the teams level.

The point won by Chiefs sees them go four points clear at the top of the table with 49 points from 23 games.

Number of the game – 91:

Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp was in charge of his 91^st league game as Chiefs’ coach. In the PSL era, only Muhsin Ertugral has been in charge of more league games than him.

Fact of the game:

Samir Nurković scored his 12^th league goal of the season – the most in the league by a Chiefs player in the league since Bernard Parker scored the same number in 2012-13.

Most Valuable Player MVP:

Samir Nurković showed his value to Amakhosi course with his 12^th goal of the season and his 7^th with his head. He was unfortunate not have scored a second goal late on in the game he was also voted man of the match. It was the 5^th time this season that he had won the Absa Man of the Match award. Lebogang Manyama also put in a good performance and made his 9^th assist in the league this season when setting up Chiefs’ goal.

Teams:

Chiefs: Akpeyi; Moleko (Parker 84’), Mathoho, Cardoso, Sasman (Ntiya-Ntiya 84’); Manyama, Katsande ©, Ngcobo (Blom 61), Billiat; Nurković, Castro (Zuma 56’)

Subs not used: Bvuma; Baccus, Mphahlele, Kambole, Agay

Wits: Goss; Phillips (Khunyedi 46, Macuphu 71’), Hlatshwayo ©, Gordinho, Macheke; Domingo (Sekgota 81’), Alexander, Nange, Hotto; Dzvukamanja (Monare 90’), Human (Nga 46’)

Subs not used:Mhlongo, Monare, Ritchie, Mathebula, Mlonyeni

What’s next:

Chiefs will be in action on Saturday when they face Polokwane City at Loftus Versfeld. Kick off is at 15:30.