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Chiefs let slip two-goal lead to draw with Royal AM

football30 November 2024 18:09| © Backpage TXT
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Kaizer Chiefs squandered a two-goal lead for the first time in the Betway Premiership this season after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Royal AM at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday, 30 November.

Nasreddine Nabi's side raced to a 2-0 lead inside the opening 15 minutes courtesy of goals from Ashley Du Preez (5') and Wandile Duba (13'), only to see Thwihli Thwahla hit back through Ayabulela Maxwele and Levy Mashiane in the second half.

The Glamour Boys climbed above Chippa United up to fifth place ahead of their clash with Magesi later on in the evening and the KZN outfit also leapfrogged Cape Town City into 10th spot.

Amakhosi arrested a three-match winless run in the league when they beat Richards Bay 2-1 at the same venue on Wednesday, while Royal AM suffered a second successive home defeat at the hands of local rivals Golden Arrows (3-2) on Tuesday.

Nabi had called on his team to be more efficient in the final third and they gave the perfect response as Du Preez opened the scoring after just five minutes - their fastest goal of the season.

Mduduzi Shabalala wasted a chance to double the hosts' lead on 12 minutes after firing wide, but Duba showed him how it's done as he put the ball past Mondle Mpoto moments later to register his second goal in two games.

Dillon Solomons' first start of the campaign was cut short on 16 minutes after being forced off through injury and he was replaced by Njabulo Blom.

The visitors threatened three minutes later, although Brandon Peterson was alert to the danger as he made a comfortable save.

However, there would be no first clean sheet for the Chiefs goalkeeper as Maxwele pulled one back for John Maduka's side six minutes into the second half.

Mfundo Vilakazi almost made an impact off the bench when he forced Mpoto into a save in the 70th minute and he was booked for simulation 12 minutes later after going to ground under a challenge inside the box.

Chiefs fans would suffer heartbreak at the death as Mashiane equalised for Royal AM in the final minute of normal time to deny Nabi what should have been his fourth win of the season.

Kaizer Chiefs (2) 2 (Du Preez 5', Duba 13')

Royal AM (0) 2 (Maxwele 51', Mashiane 89')

Kaizer Chiefs: B. Petersen, D. Solomons (N. Blom 16'), G. Msimango, R. Dortley, B. Cross, S. Mthethwa, Y. Maart, W. Duba (P. Mmodi 68'), M. Shabalala (M. Vilakazi 60'), G. Sirino (S. Zwane 68'), A. Du Preez (R. Chivaviro 68').

Royal AM: M. Mpoto, S. Shezi (M. Thikazi 73'), S. Zulu, A. Jiyane, T. Matlaba, K. Mahlasela, J. Dlamini (P. Sithebe 73'), A. Maxwele, A. Mpisane (S. Gumede 46'), B. Dlamini (S. Sithole 36'), S. George (L. Mashiane 73').

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