Amakhosi fail to unwrap Rockets in lucky draw
TS GALAXY (1) 1
Kabini 37
KAIZER CHIEFS (0) 1
Chivairo 90+7
Kaizer Chiefs couldn’t give their fans an early festive present after labouring to a draw with TS Galaxy in the Betway Premiership yesterday afternoon. Chiefs arrived in Mbombela on the back of a loss to Polokwane City and were unable to bounce back to winning ways, as Galaxy ensured that the points were shared at home.
The draw with Galaxy also meant that Chiefs remained stuck in ninth place on the log – a poor return for coach Nasreddine Nabi, who was expected to change the team’s fortunes. With Chiefs’ next game not scheduled until after Christmas against Chippa United, fans were left disappointed, and the pressure on Nabi continues to mount.
For TS Galaxy, the impressive start under coach Adnan Beganovic persisted, with two wins and two draws since taking over from Sead Ramovic. However, Beganovic was left feeling frustrated by the late equaliser that denied his team all three points, as Ranga Chivaviro scored in the dying minutes to cancel out Samukelo Kabini's first-half opener.
Chiefs, regarded as the most followed team in South Africa, have fallen from grace in recent years, resulting in an unlikely rivalry with Galaxy. The Rockets showed their intentions from the outset, pushing forward and taking the game to the visitors.
Amakhosi didn’t help their cause, appearing sloppy in defence. Inacio Miguel was particularly error-prone, fortunate not to face severe repercussions after three shaky moments in defence.
Dzenan Zajmovic's first attempt went wide, followed by Puso Dithejane's second chance, which also missed the target. An early goal for Galaxy could have further compounded Chiefs' woes, as they’ve already conceded the most goals (12) in the league this season.
A golden opportunity for Chiefs to regain composure arose when Ashley Du Preez beat the offside trap and found himself one-on-one with Galaxy goalkeeper Ira Tape. However, in a moment of frustration for the Amakhosi fans, Du Preez failed to hit the target.
Lift off for the Rockets in Mbombela 🚀🚀
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With Chiefs struggling up front, the Rockets grew in confidence, prompting Miguel to redeem himself with crucial clearances as Galaxy sought the lead. Their persistence paid off when Kabini, unmarked, elevated himself within the box to head home from Sphiwe Mahlangu’s cross, taking advantage of Chiefs' defensive frailties.
The goal left Amakhosi stunned, as coach Nabi appeared rattled, while it sparked tears of joy for Beganovic, whose side desperately sought a healthy lead going into half-time.
Despite Galaxy's dominance, Nabi made three changes at half-time, including the introduction of fan favourite, attacker Mfundo Vilakazi, to revitalise the side. The substitutions indeed injected energy into the match, with Mduduzi Shabalala striking the crossbar from close range in a near equaliser.
Ultimately, Chiefs found their equaliser late in the match but, regrettably, it meant there would be no early Christmas present for the Amakhosi faithful. As the challenges under coach Nabi persist, the waiting game for a turnaround continues amidst rising tensions within the club.