Kaizer Chiefs ended December in exactly the same manner that they began the month with a 2-2 draw away from home against Black Leopards in Thohoyandou.

Chiefs began December with a thrilling 2-2 draw away to Ajax Cape Town and the similarities in the two games were earily close.

With the draw in Thoyandou Chiefs are now seven points off league leaders Sundown’s who they will meet some time in February when they will be hoping to close the gap on them.

Like they have been in their previous four matches Chiefs were once again slow out of the starting gates and sat back as Leopards controlled the early play.

It took the Amakhosi fifteen minutes to create their first real goal scoring opportunity as Arthur Zwane maraudered his way down the right and sent a cross along the ground goalwards. David Radebe sold the Leopards’ defence a dummy but David Mathebula was unable to connect with the bobbing loose ball.

Leopards had a great scoring opportunity a minute later but Siphiwe Mkhonza deflected Mashaba’s shot and a back peddling Emile Baron kept the ball out.

Mid way through the first half and a lapse in concentration by Kamanga who passed the ball straight to David Mathebula on the half way line led to Chiefs opening the scoring.

Mathebula played a quick through ball after picking up a way ward pass from Kamanga to David Radebe who chipped to Agyemang who with a deft touch header the ball into Mathebula’s path who then finished off the move he started.

The home side started off the second half the brighter and were level three minutes after the restart as Sikhwivhilu played Ramudzuli through into the Chiefs 18 yard area and he calmly slotted the ball past Baron.

Chiefs regained their lead after the hour as David Radebe ran on to a pass from Louis Agyemang and neatly put the ball pass a stranded Mutshi in the leopards goal, the home team fought back and were rewarded when substitute Ngambi struck to level matters in the 75th minute.

Chiefs had a chance late on to take home all three points but Kaizer Motaung Junior watched with anguish as his close range header from a David Obua flick on was punched away by Mutshi.

Chiefs go into an unusually long summer break, due to the Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Egypt in January and February, the Amakhosi will return to league action against Dynamos on the 17th February.

Will be looking to start the New Year with three points in order to stay in touch with league front runners Sundown’s and Pirates.

Line-Ups:

Black Leopards: 200. G.K. Mutshi, 2. A. Kamanga (6. Semake 70 min), 4. D. Lechesa, 16. F. Matola,

23. J. Mayinga, 25. A. Matodzi, 7. T. Mashaba, 9. M. Sikhwivhilu, 20. J. Maluleke (10. Gumbi 45 min),30. P. Mponda, 28. R. Ramudzuli (14. D. Ntimbani 88 min)

Coach: Bibey Mutombo

Kaizer Chiefs: 16. E. Baron, 2. J. Tau, 4. C. Nzama, 44. S. Mkhonza, 33. D. Mototo (28. Spencer 80 min), 8. T. Nengomasha, 13. D. Obua, 24. D. Mathebula (27. Sibeko 58 min), 18. A. Zwane, 31. D. Radebe, 20. L. Agyemang (7. K. Motaung Jnr 85 min)

Coach: Ernst Middendorp

Yellow Cards:

Leopards: 7. T. Mashaba 55 min, 10. R. Ngambi 75 min, 16. F. Matola 84 min

Chiefs: 33. D. Mototo 15 min, 44. S. Mkhonza 34 min, 2. J. Tau 69 min

Referee: P. Marques

Attendance: 33 000