Qwa-Qwa, Free State – Despite dropping their first points of the season Kaizer Chiefs remained at the top of the Absa Premiership after playing to a goalless draw against Free State Stars on Saturday.
The match took place in extremely windy conditions at the Charles Mopeli Stadium in Qwa-Qwa which made passing the ball enormously difficult for the players.
Nonetheless, it was a very competitive match and although chances on goal were few and far between there was a lot of action taking place in the middle of the park.
From the outset it was clear the Stars midfield were not going to give the Chiefs attacking players any time on the ball as tackles coming flying in thick and fast.
Still, despite the pressure Siyabonga Nkosi was able to fashion the first real chance on goal for the Amakhosi when he set Kingston Nkhatha through on goal with a sublime pass.
The Chiefs striker, though, squandered the chance as he fired his shot straight at the keeper who made a relatively comfortable save from close range.
Stars’ only real chance of the half came in the 33rd minute due to sloppy marking by the Amakhosi at a corner-kick.
The ball was whipped into the box and Paulus Masehe was able to rise above his marker to get his head on the ball, but luckily for Chiefs he headed wide of the target from six-yards out.
Chiefs should have taken the lead two minutes before the break when a Siphiwe Tshabalala corner found Eric Mathoho unmarked at the back post, but he also headed wide from about four-yards out.
The second 45 saw Chiefs tire and they struggled to create clear-cut chances on goal.
Stars, on the other hand, came into the game and while they could not break down the Chiefs defence, they tried their luck from long range on numerous occasions.
The Ea Lla Koto’s best effort on goal came in the 70th minute when Luyolo Nomandela let fly from 25-yards out, but Itumeleng Khune produced a great acrobatic save to deny him.
In the end, both teams dropped their first points of the season.
TEAMS
Stars: Mweene; Sambu (Esterhuizen 93’), Ouro-Akoriko, Cardoso, Gege, Mashego, Wiltwer, Masehe, Wome, Nomandela, Mvula (Berrian 88’)
Chiefs: Khune; Gaxa, Mathoho, Mashamaite, Jambo, Dladla (Lebese 89’), Nkosi, Letsholonyane, Tshabalala, Parker, Nkhatha (Majoro 72’) – Backpage Media