JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 04: Glody Lilepo of Kaizer Chiefs on the offensive during the Betway Premiership match between Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu FC at FNB Stadium on February 04, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images)
Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu shared the spoils in an entertaining 2-2 draw in Betway Premiership action on Tuesday night.
Betway Premiership
Result: Kaizer Chiefs 2-2 AmaZulu
Date: 04 February 2025
Venue: FNB Stadium
Chiefs gave new signings Tashreeq Morris, Makabi Lilepo and Thabo Cele their first starts alongside the return of Reeve Frosler, Bradley Cross and Yusuf Maart, as six changes from a last-minute defeat against Orlando Pirates.
Amakhosi had patient build-ups in the early exchanges and nearly went ahead after Mduduzi Shabalala ruffled the side-net with a shot unmarked in the box.
The Glamour Boys eventually went ahead on 18 minutes after goalkeeper Richard Ofori fumbled a cross challenged by Morris and the ball ricochetted off Ramahlwe Mphahlele and went over the line.
However, Chiefs were caught napping on a counter-attack from the restart, after Tshepang Moremi equalised for AmaZulu from a through ball by Rowan Human.
Nasreddine Nabi’s charges increased their tempo and were unfortunate not to restore their lead towards the interval after Morris had a volley that missed the target by inches and Lilepo had clean strike smothered by Ofori, as the sides were level pegging at half-time.
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Nasreddine Nabi’s charges increased their tempo and were unfortunate not to restore their lead towards the interval after Morris had a volley that missed the target by inches and Lilepo had clean strike smothered by Ofori, as the sides were level pegging at half-time.
Amakhosi had a slow start in the second stanza as they took time to get their rhythm again and were punished on the hour-mark after Elmo Kimbindu made it 2-1 for the visitors with a header at the near post from a cross by Human.
Chiefs eventually snapped out of their sleep as just three minutes later they restored parity from another howler by Ofori, who parried a header by Lilepo into his own net at the near post.
The Glamour Boys had the momentum in the latter stages as they brought on Gaston Sirino in place of Pule Mmodi for fresh legs in attack.
Sirino made an immediate impression but he missed a good chance before he made up for it with a cross that needed a header across goal but Ranga Chivaviro could not apply the finishing touches, as the sides shared the spoils.
Here’s how they lined up:
Kaizer Chiefs: 44. Bvuma, 48. Cross, 39. Frosler, 84. Miguel, 14. Dortley, 8. Maart, 21. Cele, 13. Mmodi, 42. Shabalala, 40. Morris, 99. Lilepo
Subs: 1. Petersen, 24. Dithlokwe, 4. Kwinika, 5. Mthethwa, 37. Zwane, 10. Sirino, 11. Potsane, 28. Vilakazi, 7. Chivaviro
AmaZulu: 50. Ofori, 26. Jooste, 12. Fielies, 23. Mphahlele, 4. Hanamub, 8. Motshwari, 34. Zungu, 27. Ekstein, 19. Moremi, 93. Kambindu, 21. Human
Subs: 44. Mothwa, 17. Gumede, 45. Mgonyama, 25. Ngobeni, 18. Brooks, 10. Ngema, 15. Mbanjwa, 37. Sithole, 9. Ighodaro
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