Cape Town - Kaizer Chiefs had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Free State Stars in a league match played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday evening.
After a bright start by Stars to the game, Amakhosi took
control and went on to enjoy the better of the first half chances. After the
two sides scored in quick succession early in the second half, Chiefs pushed
the harder for a winner, but couldn't break down a resolute Ea Lla Koto
defence.
Stars started with purpose and could have scored after five minutes when Thabo Maphakisa sent in a dangerous cross, but Sinethemba Jantjie was unable to make any kind of connection from a few yards out.
Chiefs grew stronger as the match progressed and they had their first chance when Gustavo Paez picked out George Maluleka, but his 21st minute effort veered marginally wide of the far post.
Amakhosi continued to pressurise the Ea Lla Koto defence and
were nearly ahead in the 37th minute when Siphiwe Tshabalala's shot beat Stars
keeper Badra Sangare, only for Sifiso Mbhele to clear the ball off the line.
Two minutes later and Maluleka curled a shot from 18-yards
onto the roof of the net after Paez had pulled the ball back for him.
Itumeleng Khune made the first save of the second half,
seven minutes after the restart, when he kept out Jantjie's stinging shot,
while at the other end of the field Badra Sangare took the ball off
Tshabalala's feet after he had beaten two defenders in the box.
Nhlanhla Vilakazi put Stars in front when his shot from 25-yards struck Amakhosi defender Daniel Cardoso and wrong-footed Khune.
But Chiefs were back on level terms only three minutes later as Willard Katsande picked out Bernard Parker, who did well to steady himself and fire into the roof of the net from inside the box.
Nyiko Mobbie forced Khune into a save with a shot from a tight angle on 78 minutes, before Sangare snatched the ball away from Bhongolethu Jayiya 10 minutes later at the opposite end.
Joseph Molangoane was unlucky not to help the Soweto giants
claim all three points when he fired an effort into the post in the 94th
minute, after which the final whistle blew.