Absa Premiership
Result: Polokwane City 1-1 Kaizer Chiefs
Date: 23 February 2019
Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium
Kaizer Chiefs failed to secure maximum points at Polokwane City, as an error from Daniel Akpeyi saw the Soweto giants held at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Amakhosi lined-up with four changes from their Nedbank Cup outing last weekend, as Daniel Akpeyi, Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya, Khama Billiat and Philani Zulu earned starts.
Chiefs got off the perfect start when they grabbed the lead in the 15th minute, with Daniel Cardoso converting his third penalty of the season after Nicholas Motloung was penalised for a handball inside the box, 1-0.
The Chiefs goalkeeping department came under more pressure as Walter Musona levelled matters for Rise and Shine five minutes later with a low strike from 20-yards that somehow made its way past the diving body of Akpeyi.
Hendrick Ekstein had a glorious opportunity to restore the lead for Ernst Middendorp's charges on the half-hour mark after going through on goal, but the midfielder took too long and Motloung made a quick recovery to make a crucial tackle from behind.
The match was very open in the closing stages of the half and Billiat almost made it 2-1 for Chiefs with a volleyed effort on the stroke of halftime that sailed slightly wide of the top corner.
Middendorp made his first change at the beginning of the second stanza as Dumisani Zuma came on for Ekstein while ten minutes into the second stanza, he brought on Ramahlwe Mphahlele for Zulu.
Teenage Hadebe came close to giving Chiefs the lead after the hour-mark with a chipped effort that almost looped over City goalkeeper George Chigova, who managed to gather the attempt with his finger tips.
Clear chances were hard to come by for both sides in the last quarter of an hour, which prompted Middendorp to throw in Ryan Moon for Ntiya-Ntiya as the Soweto giants pushed for a winning goal.
Zuma almost snatched the winner for the visitors six minutes before time with glancing header inside the box, but Chigova was on hand to make the save as the two sides settled for a share of the spoils.
Here's how they lined up:
Polokwane: 1. Chigova, 22. Mbonani, 20. Phiri, 24. Hlongwane, 27. Motloung, 8. Maluleke, 33. Mvelase, 21. Seabi, 9. Mashumba (Mngomezulu 66'), 15. Musona (Manaka 80'), 7. Booi.
Subs: 3. Anas, 14. Manaka, 16. Mngomezulu, 25. Sikhosana, 29. Mphambaniso, 50. Phali, 5. Maponyane.
Chiefs: 40. Akpeyi, 18. Moleko, 20. Hadebe, 4. Cardoso, 36. Ntyiya-Ntiya (Moon 83'), 10. Ntshangase, 12. Maluleka, 27. Ekstein (Zuma 46'), 22. Zulu (Mphahlele 56'), 25. Parker, 11. Billiat.
Subs: 44. Bvuma, 30. Ngezana, 6. Adrianarimanana, 2. Mphahlele, 39. Frosler, 28. Zuma, 7. Moon.
