Chiefs draw, stay in front

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Siphiwe Tshabalala of Kazier Chiefs (centre) celebrates hits goal against Wits.

Johannesburg – Kaizer Chiefs stretched their lead at the top of the league standings, despite being held to a 1-1 draw against Wits at FNB Stadium on Saturday night.

While Amakhosi moved three points clear of Orlando Pirates, who had a game in hand, the Students retained their place in the top half of the Absa Premiership table.

Wits grabbed the early lead when Ryan Chapman connected with a Matthew Pattison corner, climbing high to slam the ball down into the bottom right corner.

Chiefs, however, took control for the remainder of the first half, with Siphiwe Tshabalala firing a 30-metre strike straight at Wits goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane midway through the opening period.

Five minutes later Tshabalala equalised when he received a through ball and collided with Mabokgwane, tapping the ball around the goalminder to level the scores.

Kingston Nkhatha could have put Amakhosi in front shortly before the break, but he blasted his attempt against the side netting with only the keeper to beat.

Chiefs shot stopper Itumeleng Khune saved the hosts twice within seconds in the dying stages before the break.

The Amakhosi skipper reacted quickly to push a thunderous shot from Sibusiso Vilakazi over the crossbar, and then was forced to make a diving save to his left to deny Pattison.

Chiefs pushed forward in the latter stages of an evenly matched second half, and Tefu Mashamaite thought he had scored from a header with eight minutes left, though the goal was disallowed after he pushed himself up with the shoulders of a Wits defender.

Amakhosi surged forward again, less than a minute later, and Bernard Parker sliced a shot from close range that missed centimetres wide to the left.

Chapman had a chance to bury the hosts in injury time, but his effort was easily handled by Khune. – Sapa