TS Galaxy frustrates Kaizer Chiefs in a 1-1 draw at Peter Mokaba Stadium

KAIZER CHIEFS (1): Duba 38’

TS GALAXY (1): Msimango 81' (OG)

Kaizer Chiefs’ wait for a win in four Betway Premiership games continued after they were held to a 1-1 draw by TS Galaxy at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday night.

Sure, the score might have ended 1-1 in regulation time, but this will be two points dropped for Chiefs as their Top 8 spot remains uncertain.

Chiefs are eighth on the log with 29 points, one behind the ninth-placed Chippa United who have two games in hand.

The uncertainty of Chiefs’ Top 8 finish doesn’t only put the spanner in the works for the team who finished 10th on the log last season, but also on coach Nasreddine Nabi.

Nabi is skating on thin ice as he has struggled to balance between building the team and winning matches in his first season in charge.

Galaxy, though, will take the result as they continue to keep their chances of finishing in the top three alive - they are third on the log with 36 points, one ahead of Stellenbosch.

Chiefs came into this game in desperate need of a win having lost back-to-back league matches away to Richards Bay and Golden Arrows.

They huffed and puffed for the lead and breakthrough in the first half as they were the dominant team, asking all sorts of questions at the Rockets’ defence.

The goal came later in the half courtesy of Wadile Duba. But Chiefs will feel that they should have taken the lead in the first half earlier on.

Chiefs had a lot of chances, so much so that Nkosingiphile Ngcobo tested the waters first, launching a set-piece which goalkeeper Ira Tapé parried away to safety.

Bruce Bvuma had to keep out a few shots from Galaxy in the first half as the visitors threatened to penetrate the Chiefs goalmouth through set-pieces.

But when Galaxy didn’t make those counts, Chiefs continued to surge forward, using their pace to have a go at Galaxy’s half.

As such, the speed of Dillan Solomons troubled Galaxy on the right flank as he whipped in a cross in front of the face of goal which Makabi Lilepo put wide.

The dominance in possession perhaps also spoke volumes about the coaches’ choice in the dressing code for this match.

Galaxy’s coach Adanan Beganovic was like a priest in his usual suits, preaching for peace “and anything”, while his counterpart Nabi was in tracksuits and ready for battle.

Nabi, who was pacing up and down his touchline like a father-to-be in the maternity ward waiting for the birth of his son, finally got relief.

Chiefs laboured to the lead in the 38th minute as Wandile Dube tapped home a rebound from Tape who had parried a close range shot from Chiefs’ attacker Gaston Sirino.

Galaxy went into the break on a low especially after conceding the goal from their own doing after Solomon Letsoenyo unceremoniously made a clearance towards Sirino.

Chiefs, though, upped the ante in the second as they searched for a comfortable lead as Sirino also put a close range shot.

Galaxy, though, flipped the script and started to fight back. They initially got a blessing in disguise as Inacio Miguel was stretched off due to an injury.

The instability of Chiefs defensively worked for Galaxy as Mlungisi Mbunjani tapped home after Bruce Bvuma saved Given Msimango’s goal-bound clearance.

That sent the Rockets’ bench into a frenzy as Beganovic and his bench celebrated, but it was a blow for Chiefs who are now winless in their last three league games.