Stellenbosch FC settled with 1-1 draw with Kaizer Chiefs at the Orlando Stadium on Sunday night.
Stelies took the lead in the 35th minute with Lelethu Skelem getting in front of Siphosake Ntiya-Ntiya to direct the ball into the far corner with a glancing header.
Amakhosi dominated the game with 70% possession of the ball with 9 shots on targets. The extent of the domination could also be seen in the lack of corner kicks from the Stellies while Middendorp’s side had seven corner kicks taken. Lazarous Kambole made his presence felt following the last 20 minutes when he controlled a looping ball into the area to slot beyond Langeveldt for his first goal for the club.
Amakhosi’s next game with Pitso’s men might be a challenging one without Samir Nurkovic, who is a top scorer in the team got booked in 92min which means he will be missing the next game because of four yellow cards.
There are mixed reactions in the concluded game from Amakhosi fans, we chatted to Khaya Ndubane a football writer/analyst and he said, “After the loss against Sundowns on Tuesday, Chiefs will have three points lead but Sundowns will have a game in hand. It will end in tears. If I were a Chiefs fan I would wait until the end of the season before I make noise but hey the volume is still high. Sithulile siyabuka”
Amakhosi have opened a six-point lead at the top of the Absa Premiership standings away from close rivals Mamelodi Sundowns
Stellenbosch almost regained the lead minutes to the end, but Du Preez went into the side-netting from a cross with the Amakhosi caught square leaving the spoils shared in Soweto.
Here’s how they lined up:
Chiefs: 43. Akpeyi, 39. Frosler, 4. Cardoso, 30. Ngezana, 20. Sasman, 36. Ntiya-Ntiya, 31. Katsande, 10 Ntshangase, 25. Parker, 11. Billiat, 8. Castro
Subs: 44. Bvuma, 6. Baccus, 9. Nurković, 18. Moleko, 7. Kambole, 5. Agay, 36. Ngcobo, 21. Zulu, 22. Zuma
Stellenbosch: 35. Langeveldt, 42. Mobbie, 13. Van Heerden, 4. De Goede, 20. Robertson, 23. Sinkala, 5. Mthethwa, 14. Msengi, 29. Moon, 9. Du Preez, 18. Skelem.
Subs: 1. Pool, 32. Mbekile, 21. Isaacs, Van Rooyen, 15. Bergman, 3. Ndlovu, 6. Moroole, Adams, 22. Solomons.