Solomons’ late strike earns Chiefs a point in CAF Confederation Cup match against Zamalek

Kaizer Chiefs’ winless start to their CAF Confederation Cup group-stage campaign continued as they endured a 1-1 draw against Zamalek at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Chiefs went into the match eager to get their group-stage campaign back on track after losing their opener to Al Masry in Egypt. But it wasn’t to be — the White Knights scored early, only for Amakhosi to salvage a point deep into stoppage time.

Chiefs will now have to wait until late January to try to secure their first win in the group when they face their COSAFA-region neighbours Zesco United. In the meantime, they cannot afford to drop their heads as they will need to beat Chippa United and TS Galaxy to end the year on a high in domestic football.

After a four-year absence from the group stages — having last featured in the CAF Champions League — Chiefs are learning the hard way what it will take to reach the knockout rounds.

They lost their opening game to Al Masry and were determined to revive their campaign against the White Knights. But they faced a tough challenge, as Zamalek drew first blood in a sunny Polokwane. Goalkeeper Brandon Petersen failed to deal with a set-piece, forcing Inacio Miguel to clear the ball off the line. The Angolan’s clearance inadvertently turned into an assist as the rebound fell kindly for Seifeddine Jaziri, who composed himself before slotting into the bottom corner.

It appeared that Miguel was having a difficult afternoon as he later failed to deal with another ball while attempting a short back pass to Petersen. A Zamalek player intercepted and slid it into the back of the net. However, referee Samuel Uwikunda and his team did not award the goal, adjudging that Miguel — who will miss Angola’s AFCON campaign after being left out of the preliminary squad — had been pushed by the attacker.

Chiefs tried to answer the questions posed by the visitors but couldn’t find a breakthrough. Gaston Sirino came closest when he hit a thunderbolt from just after the centreline, only for his effort to crash against the upright and roll to safety.

But that was the end of Sirino’s afternoon. He was stretchered off moments later and replaced by Mfundo Vilakazi due to injury — Chiefs’ second enforced substitution of the first half after Bradley Cross limped off and was replaced by Paseka Mako.

Chiefs’ early second-half chances promised a turnaround, with Vilakazi trying his luck from range and attempting to cut open the Zamalek defence, while Mako’s nippy dribbles left markers trailing. But nothing came of their efforts.

Even a powerful long-range strike from Lebohang Maboe yielded no reward, as it flew off target, and Chiefs went into the break trailing.

Chiefs huffed and puffed in the second half, searching for the much-needed response, but Zamalek remained rock-solid and disciplined in defence, repelling every threat. Their willingness to sit back and try to catch Chiefs on the counter nearly paid off when they launched a threatening attack, but the resulting effort hit the side netting.

Zamalek continued to pose a threat going forward, finding ways to break through the middle, but they were denied a healthier advantage by Petersen’s sharp goalkeeping

Chiefs managed to prevent the White Knights from scoring a second, and they found the equaliser deep into stoppage time when Dillan Solomons delivered a good square ball that goalkeeper Mohamed Daader failed to hold, with the ball slipping through his hands and crossing the goal line.