Advantage Sundowns in title race

DOBSONVILLE, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 19: Teko Modise of Sundowns celebrates his goal during the Absa Premiership match between Moroka Swallows and Mamelodi Sundowns at Dobsonville Stadium on April 19, 2014 in Dobsonville, South Africa. (Photo by Duif du Toit/Gallo Images)

DOBSONVILLE, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 19: Teko Modise of Sundowns celebrates his goal during the Absa Premiership match between Moroka Swallows and Mamelodi Sundowns at Dobsonville Stadium on April 19, 2014 in Dobsonville, South Africa. (Photo by Duif du Toit/Gallo Images)

Published Apr 24, 2014

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Johannesburg – Mamelodi Sundowns moved a step closer to claiming the Premiership title as Kaizer Chiefs were held to a goalless draw against Bidvest Wits in Johannesburg on Wednesday evening.

Trailing the log leaders by six points heading into Wednesday's tie, Chiefs needed all three points to keep the pressure on the Brazilians, who now lead the defending league champions by five points, having played a game more than the chasing Amakhosi.

With the top three all but secured already, Wits did little to change their fortunes and look destined for a third-place finish to the season, a place better than last season's surprise top four finish.

Gavin Hunt's men, however, managed to throw a spanner in the works for Chiefs, who now face the prospect of being unable to catch Sundowns, even if the Soweto side win their remaining three encounters.

Wednesday's result kept the chase for Premiership honours on course for a nail-biting finish, with the winners seemingly to be decided on the last day of the season.

The highly anticipated encounter between two of the country's front-runners produced end-to-end action from the start, George Lebese trying his luck from distance, before a promising corner caused problems for the Chiefs defensive unit shortly after.

The Clever Boys looked up for it and forced a spectacular save from Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune in the 16th, the Bafana

Bafana number one pulling off a stunning effort to his left to deny Sthembiso Ngcobo who got a shot away from a tight angle inside the Chiefs area.

The visitors replied with a chance of their own, as Parker dispatched a powerful free-kick at goal, but Wits shot-stopper Moeneeb Josephs was left with a straightforward parried save.

The resulting throw-in led to a clinical break from the hosts, who drew a corner, after Vilakazi's good work in the area handed Wits another shot on goal.

Wits kept up the pressure and continued to trouble Chiefs from the set-piece, which allowed the home side to create a host of chances, Ngcobo grazing the top of the crossbar shortly before half-time.

Level at the break, the Students started the second period much the way they did the first and went dangerously close through Asive Langwe on the left, the winger thundering against the upright following some good work by Vilakazi down the middle, which would have capped a superb goal, were it not for the intervention of the woodwork.

When Wits eventually found the back of the net after the hour mark, referee Victor Gomes ruled Ngcobo offside, while at the other end, Josephs was a mere spectator.

The disallowed goal was testament to Wits' dominance and did little to spark Chiefs into life and came closest after the break from a throw-in, which Kingston Nkhatha ballooned over the crossbar when the ball came down, as Chiefs began to run out of time to grab maximum points.

Chiefs brought on Katlego Mphela late on and his impact was immediately felt, as the former Downs attacker struck the crossbar from close range, in a cruel denial of what would have surely sealed a last gasp winner for the Amakhosi.

Mphela's near-miss was followed by an even closer chance, as Josephs came to the rescue and kept Erick Mathoho's attempt off the line in the closely-contested affair in front of a packed Wits crowd, who braved the cold and watched as the league came a game closer to being decided. – Sapa

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