Chiefs Earn Crucial Point Against Stellenbosch

Kaizer Chiefs           (0) 1 (Kambole 69’)  

Stellenbosch             (1) 1 (Skelm 35’)

Kaizer Chiefs came from behind to earn a vital 1-1 draw against Stellenbosch at Orlando Stadium in Soweto in an Absa Premiership game on Sunday evening. The point is vital in Chiefs bid for the title as Amakhosi upheld their six-point lead at the top of the standings. Lelethu Skelem scored for a second game in a row when he gave Stellenbosch the lead in the 35^th minute. Lazalous Kambole who looked lively after coming on as a second half substitute drew Chiefs level scoring his first goal of the season in the 69^th minute.

After some neat interchanging of passes in the 12^th minute by Chiefs, the ball made its way out to Reeve Frosler on the right. He drove the ball goal-wards from around 20 yards out the ball went under the legs of Stellenbosch defender Marc Van Heerden but goalkeeper Lee Langeveldt managed to get down to make a save.

Chiefs conjured up another chance in the 26^th minute of the game. Bernard Parker floated in a corner from the right which Siyabonga Ngezana rose highest to meet. His attempted header at goal went just wide of Langeveldt’s right hand up right.

Shortly after Chiefs were forced to make a substitution as Leonardo Castro left the field with a hamstring injury and he was replaced by Samir Nurković in the 27^th minute of the match.

In the 35^th minute, Stellenbosch with their first attack of the game and against the run of play went ahead. As a Chiefs attack broke down, Ashley Du Preez raced down the left where he tussled Ngezana before sending a telling ball into the danger zone. Skelem was on hand to climb above Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya and head the ball past Daniel Akpeyi, to put the visitors 1-0 ahead.

In the 42^nd minute, Ngezana managed to make contact with a cross from the right by Parker, but his glancing header was easily collected by Langeveldt as Stellenbosch went into the break 1-0 ahead.

Kambole was one of three players brought on at half time to try and turn the tide. He did well to test Langeveldt with a ferocious shot from distance as he managed to find some space before unleashing a powerful driven shot which had the Stellenbosch goalkeeper sprawling across the ground to block the ball in the 56^th minute.

Kambole continued to trouble the Stellenbosch and it was he who drew Chiefs level in the 69^th minute. Frosler’s ball from the left troubled the visitors’ defence and the ball found the Chiefs striker. He did well to control the ball and with van Heerden trying to stop him, he managed to connect with the ball on the half volley and struck the ball sweetly past Langeveldt to level matters at 1-1. This was as the Zambian scored his first league goal of the campaign.

In the build-up to the goal, as the ball reached Kambole the Stellenbosch keeper stopped briefly as he appealed for a hand ball, but replays showed the officials were correct in awarding the goal as he controlled the ball with his chest not his hands.

With Chiefs pressing for a winner, Stellenbosch counter attacked as Du Preez was set up by Nyiko Mobbie who rolled the ball along the ground to him, but he drilled his effort from close range past Akpeyi but into the side netting.

In the third minute of referee’s added time towards the end of the second half, Nurković picked up a yellow card which rules him out of Chiefs next league game against Mamelodi Sundowns.

The game ended 1-1. This sees Chiefs build up a six-point lead ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns at the top of the Absa Premiership standings.  The two teams will meet Sundowns in a crucial league clash on Thursday.

Fact of the Game 

Chiefs have now won 13 points from losing positions in the league this season.

Number of the game 329

Kambole’s goal for Chiefs was the first that Stellenbosch had conceded in 329 minutes of league action.

Most Valuable Player (MVP)

Lazalous Kambole put in a strong performance after coming on he bossed the Stellenbosch defence and gave Chiefs the cutting edge. He also finished well when he scored his goal which brought Chiefs level. Reeve Frosler also put in a good showing as his crosses from the right were telling and he also made the assist for Kambole’s goal.

Teams:

Chiefs: Akpeyi; Frosler, Ngezana (Agay 76’), Cardoso, Sasman; Parker, Katsande ©, Ntshangase (Zuma 46’), Ntiya-Ntiya (Moleko 46’); Billiat (Kambole 46’), Castro (Nurković 27’)

Subs not used: Bvuma, Baccus, Ngcobo, Zulu

Stellenbosch: Langeveldt ©; Mobbie, De Goede, Robertson, van Heerden (van Rooyen 82’); Moon (Mbekile 82’), Mthethwa, Sinkala (Bergman 45’), Msengi (Moroole 90’), Skelem (Ndlovu 82’); Du Preez

Subs not used: Isaacs, Adams, Solomons, Pool

What’s next?

Chiefs will now turn their attention to their top of the table clash against Mamelodi Sundowns on Thursday at Orlando Stadium.