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10-man Chiefs hold on for stalemate

football02 March 2024 19:10| © Backpage TXT
By:BackpageTXT
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Ten-man Kaizer Chiefs held Soweto rivals Moroka Swallows to a 0-0 draw in a DStv Premiership match played at the FNB Stadium on Saturday evening.

In a match which was disrupted by a fierce lightning storm, the Amakhosi should feel more satisfaction at the result having played almost half of the contest with a numerical disadvantage, while the Birds may reflect on a lack of killer instinct.

Chiefs are placed sixth with 26 points from their 18 league matches, while Swallows are seven places and six points further back.

Chances were few and far between in the opening quarter of the match, with neither side able to get in behind a defence and test out goalkeepers Bruce Bvuma and Daniel Akpeyi.

Past the midway point of the first half Chiefs were lucky not to be reduced to 10 men, as Happy Mashiane received only a yellow card for a challenge on Gabadinho Mhango which was arguably worthy of a straight red.

The hosts hit the back of the net on the half-hour mark, as Ranga Chivaviro’s header was well saved by Akpeyi, only for Ashley du Preez to sweep home the loose ball from close range.

However, the latter attacker was correctly flagged for offside and the goal was ruled out.

The first half closed with the score at 0-0, and less than two minutes after the restart the Amakhosi were reduced to 10 men when Edmilson Dove hauled down Mhango as the last defender and was sent off.

Chiefs responded with a pair of substitutions on 56 minutes, as Dillon Solomons and Wandile Duba were brought on to solidify the reduced line-up, and soon thereafter the match was temporarily suspended due to the danger of lightning near the stadium.

After a break of nearly an hour, the match resumed, with Swallows now looking to make the most of their numerical advantage. And the Birds almost claimed the lead on 68 minutes via Desmond Mphahlele’s long range shot, but he was brilliantly denied by Bvuma.

No further chances of the same level were created at either end in the remainder of the match, leaving the Amakhosi and the Birds to settle for a share of the spoils.

The teams will be back in Premiership action in the coming midweek, with Swallows away to AmaZulu and Chiefs at home to Golden Arrows, both on Tuesday 5 March.

Kaizer Chiefs 0

Moroka Swallows 0

Chiefs: Bvuma, Mashiane, Kwinika, Msimango, Dove, Maart (Nj. Ngcobo 85’), Castillo (Saile 77’), Mmodi (Mthethwa 77’), Dolly (Solomons 56’), Du Preez, Chivaviro (Duba 56’)

Swallows: Akpeyi, Mphahlele, Mngonyama, Sibiya, Falakhe, Damons, Khupe (Koapeng 68’), Mthethwa, Everson (Mbanjwa 68’), Mtshali, Mhango

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