Kaizer Chiefs (1) 2
(Chivaviro 18’, 50’)

TS Galaxy (1) 2
(S. Mahlangu pen. 31’, 76’)

New Peter Mokaba stadium, Polokwane

A Ranga Chivaviro brace was not enough to secure three DStv Premiership points for Kaizer Chiefs, as TS Galaxy came back twice through Sphiwe Mahlangu to earn a point in an entertaining encounter at the new Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane on Tuesday evening.

Amakhosi were reduced to 10 men for the entire second half after Edmilson Dove was dismissed moments before the interval.

The match began at a lively pace with Chiefs aiming to put the disappointment of their last game behind them by getting onto the front foot early on.

Ranga Chivaviro tested Rockets goalkeeper, Fiacre Ntwari in the 4^th minute with a towering header that the Rwandan did well to tip around the post at full stretch.

Galaxy fired ack in the 11^th minute through Mahlangu, whose shot was well saved by Bruce Bvuma.

Amakhosi took the lead in the 18^th minute when Mpho Mvelase got into a tangle trying to play the ball out of his own penalty area. Sibongiseni Mthethwa pounced in his hesitancy and allowed the alert Chivaviro to dispossess him and slide the ball into the net.

The lead lasted 12 minutes before the visitors were awarded a penalty for handball by Dove after the ball struck him at close range from a Thato Khiba shot. Dove was booked and Mahlangu despatched the spot kick to even the scores.

Njabulo Ngcobo drew a fingertip save from Ntwari in the 39^th minute that denied Chiefs the lead and then, on the stroke of half-time, Dove was given his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card for a robust lunge on Kamogelo Sibelebele.

Sacrificing Christian Saile for defender, Thatayaone Dithlokwe, Chiefs made light of their numerical disadvantage and continued to push forward. They deservedly retook the lead on 49 minutes courtesy of Chivaviro’s second. Reeve Frosler’s promising run was stopped by a Foulon the edge of the Rockets’ box and Pule Mmodi tapped a short free kick to Chiva to rifle the ball hard and low into the bottom corner of Ntwari’s goal.

Ntwari was called into action twice in short shrift, as Amakhosi sought the killer blow, saving first from a powerful long range Frosler shot, and then from Siyethembe Sithebe, after Amakhosi had impressively won back possession high up the pitch.

Coach Cavin Johnson wil be disappointed at the way his team conceded the equaliser in the 76^th minute, as a lapse in concentration allowed Mahlangu to rise unmarked at the near post to head home Higor Vidal’s corner.

Chivaviro had an opportunity to win the game and complete his hattrick with six minutes left when he shot agonisingly just wide after turning well to receive Mmodi’s square pass and made half a yard to get a strike away.

Neither team could fashion a decisive opportunity and the last action of the match was a red card shown to Amakhosi substitute goalkeeper, Brandon Petersen, apparently for dissent towards the officials.

Kaizer Chiefs lie in 8^th position on the log, with 34 points from 27 games. They will be intent on adding three more points when they tackle AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban on Sunday, 12 May.

Line-ups:

Kaizer Chiefs: Bvuma (44), Frosler (39), Dove © (2), Nj Ngcobo (27), Solomons (18) (Kwinika (4) 69’), Mthethwa (5), Sithebe (6), Shabalala (42) Du Preez (9) 76’), Mmodi (13) (Castillo (17) 90+5’), Basomboli Saile (21) (Ditlhokwe (24) 45’), Chivaviro (7)

Subs not used: Petersen (1); Mashiane (19), Zwane (37), Vilakazi (28), Duba (36)

Coach: Cavin Johnson

TS Galaxy: Ntwari (16); Munyai (23), Sanoka © (3), M. Mahlangu (4), Kabini (24), Mvelase (2), Dithejane (6) (Vidal (20) 72’), Khiba (12), Sebelebele (21) (Nurković (9) 54’), Mojela (27) (Mbatha (35) 90’), S. Mahlangu (11)

Subs not used: Kolak (32); Seema (45), Letsoenyo (33), Mbunjana (8), Semache (13), Mere (30)

Coach: Sead Ramovic