Sekhukhune United and Kaizer Chiefs played out a 1-1 draw in their Betway Premiership match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The result – which featured goals from Ngoanamello Rammala and Glody Lilepo – does little to help either team in their ambitions: Babina Noko drop out of third place (being leapfrogged by Stellenbosch FC, who defeated SuperSport United) and could miss out on qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup, while the Amakhosi extended their winless run to eight matches in the league and remain in ninth place – with goal difference keeping them off the pace needed to secure a spot in next season’s MTN8.
Sekhukhune got off to the perfect start, claiming the lead in the fourth minute via Ngoanamello Rammala, who picked up a pass from Vusumuzi Mncube from the right flank, turned inside the penalty area sent a low, left-footed drive into the bottom corner, beating Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen at his near post.
The visitors should have drawn level just past the quarter hour mark, with Dillon Solomons doing great work down the right flank to tee up Yusuf Maart, but the match-winner from last weekend’s Nedbank Cup final put his shot over the target.
Chiefs kept pushing for an equaliser and were rewarded in injury time before the break, as Glody Lilepo cut inside from the left flank and curled home a right-footed shot – the effort arguably should have been saved by Renaldo Leaner, but took an awkward bounce just ahead of the goalkeeper.
The Amakhosi made a change at the start of the second half, with Mduduzi Shabalala replacing Gaston Sirino in attack.
Yet it was Sekhukhune who seemed to have the wind in their sails in the early minutes after the restart, with both Keletso Makgalwa and Rammala coming close to putting the hosts back in the lead.
On 65 minutes Babina Noko’s Mncube should have found the back of the bet, as he sprang the offside trap and found himself with only the goalkeeper to beat, but he somehow dragged his shot wide.
Chiefs were the more forceful team in the final quarter in terms of searching for a winning goal, but their hopes were hit in injury time when Pule Mmodi received a straight red card for an unnecessary elbow – though they almost immediately had a strong penalty appeal turned down.
The teams will complete their Premiership seasons next Saturday, 24 May. Chiefs will host Polokwane City at the FNB Stadium, while Sekhukhune will visit Golden Arrows at the Mpumalanga Stadium.
Sekhukhune United (1) 1 (Rammala 4’)
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Lilepo 45+2’)
Sekhukhune: Leaner, Mkhize, Letlapa, Cardoso, Mogaila, Tshibwabwa (Mohamme 67’), Monare (Kapinga 67’), Sihlali (Mntambo 67’), Makgalwa, Mncube (Mokoena 90+3’), Rammala
Chiefs: Petersen, Solomons, Kwinika, McCarthy (Matlou 86’), Dove, Maart, Ngcobo (Mthethwa 69’), Lilepo (Blom 86’), Sirino (Shabalala 46’), Mmodi, Duba (Du Preez 69’)