Sekhukhune Halt Chiefs’ Push For A Top Eight Spot

Sekhukhune United dented Kaizer Chiefs’ quest for a top eight finish with a 1-1 draw at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday afternoon, with Glody Makabi Lilepo cancelling out  Ngoanamello Rammala’s opener.

The Naturena-based outfit remained stagnant in position nine with 30 points accumulated after 27 Betway Premiership matches. Meanwhile, the Limpopo side dropped out of the CAF Confederations Cup spot after the stalemate.

The home team took an early lead in the fourth minute through Rammala after some good work on the right flank from Vusimuzi Mncube, who spun the young Aden McCarthy before locating the Limpopo-born left-back to slot home on the near post.

Amakhosi threatened to pull one back in the 16th minute after Gaston Sirino released right-back Dillan Solomons, who found captain Yusuf Maart with a cut-back pass, but the Chiefs captain couldn’t beat Renaldo Leaner as the Babina Noko shot-stopper parried the ball over the crossbar.

The Betway Premiership player of the month for April, Keletso Makgalwa, forced Brandon Petersen into making an excellent save in the half-hour mark before Zitha Kwinika found Lilepo a few moments later at the other end, with the Congolese firing wide off target.

Two minutes later, Kwinika was in action once again as he fizzed in a delightful ball into the box for Maart from a corner kick as the skipper’s header was gratefully clutched by Leaner. 

Sirino came close after quick interchanging of passes on the edge of the box, but failed to release a shot in the 41st minute.

Against the run of play, Lilepo found the equalizer for Chiefs with his his fifth league goal of the season on the stroke of half time after pouncing on a pass from Maart in his box for a solo run to beat Leaner in the bottom corner after cutting in as the two teams went into the half time break level.

Eric Tinker’s charges nearly doubled their lead 10 minutes into the second stanza as McCarthy was caught, but Rammala fired his shot across the face of the goal from a cross. The youthful McCarthy set up Pule Mmodi, who called Leaner into action with the goalkeeper equal to the task.

Immediately at the other end, Petersen rushed off his line, but his pass found a Sekhukhune player. However, the goalkeeper was able to cover good ground and steady himself for the shot, which he saved for a corner kick in the hour mark.

Coach Nasreddine Nabi withdrew Sirino for Mduduzi Shabalala at the beginning of the second half. Mncube capitalized on Chiefs’ high line, coming from deep to pounce on a ball over the top for a one-on-one with Petersen, but his low drilled shot went agonizingly wide.

Tinkler made a triple change with Linda Mntanbo, Lesedi Kapinga, and Lucky Mohamme replacing Samkele Sihlali, Thabang Monare, and Tresor Tshibwabwa. In response, the Tunisian mentor introduced Ashley du Preez and Sibongiseni Mthethwa in place of Wandile Duba and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo for the final 20 minutes.

Shabalala displayed his burst of pace to put in a direct cross that was dealt with for a corner kick. The two teams settled for a share of the spoils with one match remaining in their respective league duties.