Super sub saves Chiefs blushes

Substitute Reneilwe Letsholonyane scored deep in stoppage time to clinch a draw for Chiefs at Maritzburg on Saturday night. Picture: Gavin Barker

Substitute Reneilwe Letsholonyane scored deep in stoppage time to clinch a draw for Chiefs at Maritzburg on Saturday night. Picture: Gavin Barker

Published Nov 22, 2015

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Maritizburg – Substitute Reneilwe Letsholonyane scored deep in stoppage time to earn champions Kaizer Chiefs a 1-1 draw with Maritzburg United in an Absa Premiership match at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday night.

Maritzburg captain Kurt Lentjies gave his side the lead from the penalty spot in the first half, and Maritzburg were well on their way to collecting all three points before Letsholonyane equalised with basically the last kick of the match.

Chiefs had the lion’s share of the possession throughout the match but they struggled to break down this disciplined Maritzburg side.

The visitors played at a high tempo, but the home team kept their shape and didn’t give the Glamour Boys a lot of space to string passes together.

When Chiefs got going, they looked dangerous going forward, especially with Pule Ekstein pulling the strings in midfield.

The young dynamo set up teammate Bernard Parker on the edge of the Maritzburg penalty area in the 16th minute, but the former Bafana Bafana striker’s curling effort was saved by Tawfeeq Salie.

Maritzburg took the lead in the 20th minute after Chiefs left-back Tsepo Masilela handled the ball inside of his area. The defender misjudged a floated cross from the left, and Lentjies made Chiefs pay by converting the spot-kick.

Chiefs didn’t have a lot of opportunities in the first half, and when they did, they couldn’t quite make them count. Parker and Ekstein combined brilliantly in the 24th minute, but indecision between the pair gave the home side enough time to clear the danger.

Maritzburg had another chance in the 31st minute after Erick Mathoho fouled Lentjies outside the area. David Booysen had a crack from the resulting free-kick but didn’t have enough power on it to trouble Brilliant Khuzwayo.

The visitors had a sniff in the 56th minute when Lucky Baloi was fouled by Evans Rusike on the right edge of the area, but Chiefs kingpin George Lebese wasted the free-kick.

Rusike then almost doubled the home side’s lead in the 71st minute. The Chiefs defenders backed off on the edge of their area, but Rusike just couldn’t keep his effort down.

However, after seven minutes of stoppage time, Chiefs finally got the equaliser when Letsholonyane latched onto a Lebese pass to break the home side’s hearts. – ANA

lAlso last night, Mamelodi Sundowns beat Free State Stars 3-1 at Lucas Moripe Stadium, and SuperSport United edged Ajax Cape Town 1-0 at Athlone Stadium.

– THE SUNDAY INDEPENDENT

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