PSL title decider indecision

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 25: Chiefs coach Staurt Baxter and his players during the Kaizer Chiefs training session at Naturena on April 25, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 25: Chiefs coach Staurt Baxter and his players during the Kaizer Chiefs training session at Naturena on April 25, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)

Published Apr 29, 2013

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Johannesburg – What was billed as the Absa Premiership’s title decider in the end decided nothing, as Kaizer Chiefs remained six points clear at the top of the standings after battling to a draw here against Platinum Stars.

Nothing can be decided this week either, when Chiefs are due to visit Ajax Cape Town, although a win there would leave them with one hand firmly on the trophy irrespective of results elsewhere.

This result, though, saw Stars’ title chances almost certainly disappear into the Polokwane sky, as the Rustenburg side can only finish on 59 points, a target Chiefs can reach by winning just one of their remaining three matches.

Stars remain second but could drop to third place if Orlando Pirates beat Chippa United tomorrow, and indeed after this draw and Bucs’ win at Bidvest Wits on Saturday, the title race has swung again to be a Soweto contest.

But it will take a mammoth effort for Pirates to make a fight of it, and Bucs will also have to hope their rivals drop more points.

Chiefs did drop two here before an impressive 35000-strong Limpopo crowd, but they would deem this acceptable given that they were up against the only side to beat them in the Premiership this season.

And again playing enterprisingly, Dikwena could have stolen the points here. Twice they struck the woodwork in the first half, and their long balls into the Chiefs penalty area seemed to trouble debutant goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo, who was playing only because Itumeleng Khune was suspended.

Chiefs, too, had their chances in a lively first half that surprisingly did not produce a goal.

Kingston Nkhatha provided the miss of the day when he scooped the ball amateurishly wide of Siyabonga Mpontshane’s goal midway through the half, leaving Baxter with his head buried despairingly in his hands.

If he was not stressed by that Nkhatha miss, Baxter must have been close to collapsing in shock after Stars came close to breaking the deadlock with their very first attack.

Cavin Johnson’s team had weathered an early Chiefs storm but when they ventured forward, it was so impressive some Amakhosi fans may have been tempted to applaud.

Mogakolodi Ngele orchestrated a move which also drew Vuyo Mere into play. Mere combined with Tintswalo Tshabalala whose cross found Henrico Botes inside the Chiefs penalty area. Botes provided a deft backheel but the ball came off the upright.

Chiefs themselves squandered a great scoring chance at the other end when Bernard Parker selfishly decided to go for glory after beating Tshepo Gumede, leaving Nkhatha, who was well-positioned, screaming in frustration.

But perhaps Parker knew better. A few minutes later he teed up his strike-partner and, a few yards away from Mpontshane, Nkhatha could only direct a poor shot wide.

There’s a reason that Stars are so high up the table, and their class showed with every attack. Suddenly they realised Khuzwayo was suspect on the high ball, and every free-kick they got near the Chiefs area, they committed men forward. On one of those occasions, a Ngele long ball was parried weakly back into play by Khuzwayo, and it fell to Thuso Phala, who passed to Robert Ng’ambi. With Khuzwayo out of position, Ng’ambi had plenty time to take aim and shoot past the Chiefs defenders covering on the goalline, but the Malawian’s effort could only strike the crossbar.

Moments after, Chiefs’ George Lebese wasted a glorious opportunity when one-on-one with Mpontshane, allowing a Stars defender to dispossess him. It seemed incredible that as the teams retreated into the halftime break, they were still deadlocked at 0-0, but the trend continued in a quieter second period, where both teams played not to lose.

Khuzwayo seemed to have settled his earlier nerves and produced a great diving save to deny Benson Mhlongo on 47 minutes. But the half was characterised by long spells of tedium, with Chiefs finding it difficult to breach the Stars defence.

Dikwena, meanwhile, could have won it at the death when Ng’ambi’s great volley flew marginally wide of Khuzwayo’s goal. – The Star

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