Chiefs put up the fight of their lives against Jomo Cosmos at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday evening as they turned around an early two goal deficit to share the spoils with Jomo Sono’s men in what can only be described as a highly entertaining game, that kept all those at the FNB Stadium riveted and on their edge of their seats from the word go.

It was The Amakhosi who did all the early running and were able to create the first goal scoring opportunity, as David Obua sent in a long searching ball from the left which was well controlled by Shaun Bartlett, who once he had the ball under control tested warmed Khumalo in the Cosmos goal with a shot from close range. That was on three minutes and then three minutes later in the sixth minute; Bartlett again came close as he shot narrowly wide of Khumalo’s goal off a Chiefs corner.

As Chiefs were beginning to stamp their authority on the game a lapse in concentration at the back saw Chris Katongo steal possession and start a move towards the Chiefs goal, he sent a short pass to Sam Magalefa who returned the favor. The Zambian international was able to collect the return ball and found himself in acres of space in the Chiefs 18 yard area. The leagues top goal scorer then struck the ball past Fernandez to give Cosmos the lead one could say against the run of play.

The Amakhosi began to find openings and were fighting the way back into the game that was until a Chiefs attack broke down and Cosmos counter attacked quickly. Katongo was fed the ball and he moved with lightening speed into the Chiefs penalty area. As a result he was able to complete his brace in the 20th minute as he shot past a helpless Fernandez as Cosmos went two goals up. That is where Cosmos dominance ended as Chiefs hit back immediately.

Arthur Zwane, who did not feature when Chiefs drew with Benoni United, was in an ungiving mood and showed his determination to keep his place in the starting eleven, as he set about tearing the Cosmos defence apart. Zwane ran at three Cosmos defenders and left them in his wake as he was able to send in a cross into the danger area which, Shaun Bartlett needed no second invitation in getting the ball into the back of the net as a result scoring his first official goal for Chiefs.

Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp was not pleased with the performance of his defence early on. He set about making changes and he took off Captain Cyril Nzama and brought on Derrick Spencer, in an effort to tighten things off. The Coaches’ gamble almost paid dividends when on thirty minutes, Spencer was played a short pass from a free kick and he struck the ball with venom from way out. Khumalo was unsighted as the ball whizzed past him and rocketed onto the post.

Chiefs continued their domination of proceedings in the second half and had a hatful of chances, which had they converted would have seen them probably scoring five or more goals. Their second half fight back continued with Shaun Bartlett bringing out the best in Khumalo. This was after Arthur Zwane had once again done some good work down the right and sent in a pin point ball for Bartlett, who turned and shot the ball at Khumalo who was at full stretch to keep the ball out. Soon after that, Jimmy Tau tested the Cosmos goalkeeper with a good effort from distance, the Cosmos keeper could not hold onto the ball and punched it downwards, David Mathebula reacted quickest to the rebounded ball and headed the ball goal wards but looked on as his header went inches wide.

As Chiefs continued to attack it looked as though they would be rewarded when Kaizer Motaung Junior was brought down in the Cosmos 18 yard area on 74 minutes. Instead of pointing to the penalty spot the referee booked Motaung for simulation. The referee’s inconsistency did not affect Chiefs as Shaun Bartlett, went close to finding the net two minutes later off a corner, Kaizer Junior shot wide when the rebound fell to his feet. As the game moved into the final five minutes Kaizer Junior again made himself a nuisance for the Cosmos defence, and along with David Mathebula were involved in a goal mouth melle but Cosmos eventually composed themselves and cleared their lines.

In the final minutes of normal time Cosmos let their guard down and Chiefs, lead by Scara Ngobese and David Obua combined in a number of short passes which eventually lead to Obua playing a ball to Kaizer Motaung Junior. Just as he did on the opening day of the season The Amakhosi striker came to the rescue of Chiefs and found an equalizer for Chiefs with a well taken effort from the edge of the Cosmos 18 yard area, which deceived Khumalo and flew past him and rested in the Cosmos goal mouth, Sending the crowd and Ernst Middendorp into delirium and ensured that Chiefs remained unbeaten in the 2006 – 2007 season.

In the lead up to the game, Ernst Middendorp had called on some of his senior players, inpiticular the likes of Shaun Bartlett, Siyabonga Nkosi and David Obua in particular to put in the kind of performance that will help lift the team. On Wednesday night’s performance it is clearly evident that they heeded the coaches’ call as Chiefs looked a more dangerous team then they were in the goalless draw against Benoni United on Sunday. Ernst Middendorp will take a lot of heart from his team’s performance against Cosmos and will be hoping that they can maintain the momentum as they prepare for their next league game against Ajax Cape Town in Kimberley on Sunday.

Line Up’s:

Kaizer Chiefs: 1. R. Fernandez, 2. J. Tau, 4. C. Nzama (28. Spencer 28 min), 21. P. Mayo, 13. D. Obua,

18. A. Zwane, 12. T. Mooki (7. Motaung Jnr 71 min), 10. S. Nkosi, 24. D. Mathebula, 25. G. Schalkwyk (11. Ngobese 46 min), 17. S. Bartlett


Substitutes: 32. I. Khune, 27. G. Sibeko, 11. E. Ngobese, 7. K. Motaung Jnr, 28. D. Spencer,

44. S. Mkhonza, 22 .R. Kilambe,




Coach: Ernst Middendorp

Jomo Cosmos: 21. W. Khumalo, 5. V. Nahayo, 32. T. Tshilo, 33. G. Mtshali (16. Mhlathe 46 min),

4. M. Tsotetsi, 20. B. Sono (6. Letsholonyane 71 min), 27. D. Mabalane, 13. S. Magalefa, 31. S. Lekgothoane,

18. A. Laffor (17. Kadi 71 min)

11. C. Katongo




Substitutes: 17. C. Kadi, 3. E. Abdou Samb, 29. L. Mofokeng, 16. L. Mhlathe, 23. M. Gould,

6. R. Letsholonyane, 69. T. Mkhonza




Coach: Jomo Sono

Cautions:
Jomo Cosmos: Yellow Cards: 33. Gerald Mtshali 35 min, 31. Shere Lekgothoane 42 min

18. Anthony Laffor 71 min

Kaizer Chiefs: Yellow Cards: 7. Kaizer Motaung Junior 71 min, 28. Derrick Spencer 78 min

Referee: Thabo Nkosi


Assistant 1: Geronimo Piedt


Assistant 2: Andrew Rezeers


4th Official: Paulo Marquez


Match Commissioner: Adeal Carelse