Kaizer Chiefs remain top of the DStv Diski Challenge table despite drawing 1-1 with defending champions Stellenbosch at the Idas Valley Sports Ground in Stellenbosch on Saturday afternoon.
It was a top-of-the-table DDC clash with both teams ending with ten men, and Chiefs remain one point ahead of the defending champions, but with a game in hand.
With Vela Khumalo on national duty with the U17, Dillon Sheppard was once again in charge of the young Amakhosi team and it was not the start that Chiefs wanted, as Siyabonga Gumede was shown a straight red card for a last-man tackle in just the fifth minute, putting the young Amakhosi on the immediate backfoot.
But despite being a man down, it was an open game with chances at both ends. And while it had at one point looked more likely that the home team would take the lead, it was the ten men of Chiefs who went in front just before half-time as Naledi Hlongwane toe-poked home in the 43rd minute to make it 1-0. It was the Amajita striker’s 11th goal of the campaign.
Stellies started the second half on the front foot and went close five minutes in when Cheswyn Philander’s cheeky attempt hit the woodwork. But they suffered a setback when they were also reduced to ten men just before the hour mark, when Tonny Mbunga picked up a second yellow in the game.
Tylon Smith went close from a corner not long after, while Imaad Hendricks forced a top save out of Dejean Ah Shene at the other end.
And the equaliser finally came in the 80th minute when Quwan Plaatjies, who had come off the bench, headed in to make it 1-1.
Earlier in the day at the same venue, Cape Town City and Orlando Pirates drew 2-2 in an exciting encounter. Mehluleli Maphumolo and Moses Mphekgoane scored for Pirates, while Shakeel April and Heaven Sereetsi scored City’s goals, with Sereetsi and Mphekgoane scoring in stoppage time.
All Results:
Chippa United 3-2 AmaZulu
Cape Town City 2-2 Orlando Pirates
Golden Arrows 0-0 Marumo Gallants
Richards Bay 1-0 Magesi
Supersport United 3-3 TS Galaxy
Stellenbosch 1-1 Kaizer Chiefs
