Kaizer Chiefs played out their twelfth draw of the current campaign when they played out a goalless draw on Wednesday evening with Platinum Stars in Tshwane. It was a game where neither team dominated.

Just as they were earlier in the season when they played out a nil all draw, the teams were once again uninspiring through regulation time. Somehow they did push for a winner late on in the match and both teams came close to breaking the deadlock at the end. Stars will leave Tshwane knowing they were on the end of some poor refereeing decisions and were denied two legitimate penalties, which could well have handed them the match.

Muhsin Ertugral though will be happy with the fact that his regular left back Onismor Bhasera will be back for the next match, as his stand in Ditheko Mototo was unable to cope with the pacy Stars attack.

Obua off target

An early flowing move put together with a string of quick interchanges in the third minute culminated in Ditheko Mototo speeding up the left wing as he neared the Stars penalty area he squared the ball to David Obua, who from the left edge of the box side footed the ball high and over.

Khune thwarts Mofokeng

In the 11th minute Jimmy Tau conceded a corner as he chose what could have been the costly option of heading Fabian McCarthy’s forward header out for a corner on the right, which was taken by Keketso Mmotong. He swung a perfectly floated ball goal wards which George Mofokeng connected with, Itumeleng Khune got his positioning right and made the stop on the line.

Khenyeza sublime touch

With ten minutes to go to the half time whistle David Mathebula forced Stars keeper into a copy cat save, Mabhudi Khenyeza turned Joseph Mkalipa and Khaile on the right hand edge of the Stars danger area. With a crafty chip he spun the ball across goal Mathebula timed his run perfectly and met the ball with his head about 8 yards from goal, the keeper though stood his ground and grabbed the ball on the line.

Colombian Aroma

The game was really a match of two halves and Stars pretty much held the advantage in the second period. The man behind their second half revival was the Colombian Luis Renteria. He gave Ditheko Mototo a torrid time of it in the 54th minute he left the Chiefs left back far behind, the only way he could stop him was by pulling him down which he did. He got a lucky reprieve as the referee awarded Stars a free kick on the edge of the area, when instead the visitors should have been awarded penalty. On the hour he again beat Mototo on the wing his final effort went across the face of goal, and narrowly missed out on creeping in at the far post.

Nkambule Zest

Michael Nkambule brought some life to the Chiefs midfield when he came on as a second half substitute. In the 68th minute he sold the Stars defense a dummy as they expected him to pass the ball across goal. He instead played the ball forward to Mabhudi Khenyeza who from a tight angle on the left, shot towards goal but defender Mofokeng got in the way and blocked the ball.

Near miss

In the final minutes of the match Stars had reason to feel aggrieved again as they should have been awarded a penalty. For the second time in the game some inept refereeing cost them the opportunity to have won the game. The penalty claims came about when Fabian McCarthy brought down Stanley Kgatla in the dying minutes of regulation time, the referee instead gave a corner to Chiefs.

Khune saves

As the match wound down, Khune made two fantastic saves - first he plucked the ball out of the air off a shot from around twenty five yards out, then he ran off his line and with one hand pushed the ball away from Stars Heirapha Marumo.

Kaizer Junior was gifted a chance late on and could not capitalize on a Stars slip up in defence and shot the ball straight at Kapini.

Kaizer Chiefs: 32. Khune, 2. Tau, 33. Mototo, 29. Tsotetsi, 6. McCarthy, 13. Obua,

24. Mathebula, 20. Zuke, 8. Nengomasha, 17. Bartlett, 5. Khenyeza

Substitutions:

In: 10. Michael Nkambule - Out: 20. Sandile Zuke 46 min


In: 7. Kaizer Motaung Junior - Out: 13. David Obua 57 min


In: 27. Gerald Sibeko - Out: 24. David Mathebula 63 min

Substitutes not used: 30. Baron, 25. Matle, 18. Zwane, 23. Bulu

Cautions: Yellow Cards, 6. Fabian McCarthy (late tackle on Keketso Mmotong) 36 min

33. Ditheko Mototo (pulling back Edward Williams) 51 min

Coach: Muhsin Ertugral


Assistant Coach: Fani Madida


Goalkeeper Coach: Rainer Dinkelacker

Platinum Stars: 99. Kapini, 3. Khaile, 101. Tshabalala, 29. Mofokeng, 22. Mkalipa,

8. Kgatla, 7. Williams, 11. Mmotong, 35. Monareng, 31. Renteria, 17. Manenzhe

Substitutions:

In: 14. Heirapho Marumo - Out: Phumudzo Manenzhe 73 min


In: 10. Steve Lekoelea - Out: 31. Luis Renteria 80 min

Substitutes not used: 30. Sandilands, 15. Mogaila, 2. Bekithemba, 12. Solomon,

34. Zwane,

Coach: Miguel Gamondi


Assistant Coach: Cavin Johnson


Match Officials:

Referee: Victor Hlongwane


Assistant 1: J. Morajane


Assistant 2: S. Dilikane


4th Official: R. Sithole


Match Commissioner: Jankey Mabitsela