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Polokwane, Chiefs draw blanks

Polokwane - It will take some time to witness a more exciting and open goalless draw in the PSL after Polokwane City and Kaizer Chiefs somehow walked off the pitch with a goalless draw to show for their efforts.

As it happened: Polokwane City v Kaizer Chiefs

The 0-0 draw still keeps Amakhosi out in front on the log table, some 12 points ahead of Ajax Cape Town who host Bloemfontein Celtic on Wednesday evening.

But Stuart Baxter’s team full of internationals will be furious at the number of genuine goal scoring chances that were fluffed in this game.

Burly striker Kingston Nkhatha was the leading culprit, although he did have the ball in the back of the net in the first half, only for the goal to be controversially ruled out by the referee.

The result sees Polokwane City stay in position 11.

The first chance at goal for Polokwane City arrived after 8 minutes when new Bafana Bafana call up Puleng Tlolane shot goal, but somehow it flew over the bar.

In the 19th minute the visitors should have taken the lead when Nkhatha put his header wide from a brilliant ball into the box by Siphiwe Tshabalala. Nkhatha was under pressure by Botswana goalkeeper Marumo and took a knock in the process, but recovered and continued with the game.

Then, in the 38th minute, Nkhatha had the ball in the back of the net after Marumo fumbled a back post cross and the ball fell free.

Nkhatha powered his way past Marumo and bundled the ball into the net, but referee Victor Gomes blew for a foul on the keeper.

Five minutes into the second half and Marumo made amends for his poor first half when he made a good low save to deny Lebese and then another good save to deny Lebese again from close range.

Then on the hour mark, the home side began to catch Chiefs on the counter attack. Goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo denied Esau Kanyenda and three minutes later he had to tip away a swerving Jabu Maluleke shot.

In the 74th minute Amakhosi missed an absolute sitter when Nkhatha somehow missed from right in front of an open goal following great work by Tshabalala on the right.

Then the game swing to the opposite end again as Khuzwayo made three consecutive saves in the 87th minute to keep Polokwane out when they had put Chiefs under tremendous pressure.

Goalless after 90 minutes, but it takes a stretch of the imagination to understand just how this clash ended without a goal.

Teams:

Polokwane City: Marumo, Molala, Musonda (Mnqibisa 74’), Tema, Motumi, Maluleke, Alexander, Langa, Majafa (Jembula 46’), Kanyenda, Tlolane

Kaizer Chiefs: Khuzwayo, Gaxa, Mashamaite, Gould, Masilela, Maluleka, Katsande, Tshabalala, Lebese (Masango 81’), Parker, Nkhatha (Mthembu 81’)

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