By Goal.com News on Sunday, 23 August 2020
Category: Goal.com News

Kaizer Chiefs 1-1 Stellenbosch: Kambole opens goalscoring account for Amakhosi

Ernest Makhaya

South Africa Chief Editor

The Zambia international got his first goal for the Glamour Boys after what has been a frustrating season

Kaizer Chiefs and Stellenbosch FC settled for a share of spoils following a 1-1 draw at Orlando Stadium on Sunday night, as the league leaders missed the chance to extend their advantage to Mamelodi Sundowns to eight points.

Lelethu Skelem opened the scoring for Stellenbosch in the first half but a second-half strike by Lazarous Kambole, finally breaking his duck for Chiefs, rescued a point for Amakhosi. 

Ernst Middendorp's men have now opened a six-point lead at the top of the PSL standings while Steve Barker's charges remained ninth with three league games to go. 

Middendorp made a couple of changes to the team that lost to Bloemfontein Celtic with Siyabonga Ngezana getting his first start since December. 

Siphelele Ntshangase also made the cut, cracking the nod for the first time this season. 

After a tightly contested opening quarter, Amakhosi started playing with confidence and knocked the ball around comfortably. 

However, they still couldn't hurt Stellenbosch where it mattered the most, and for Barker, this was a chance to use his side's speed to get behind the Amakhosi defence. 

As expected, Chiefs looked dangerous throughout, with crosses played inside the Stellenbosch box, and Ngezana came close to opening the scoring from a Parker cross, only for his header to go wide. 

After starting as a lone striker, Leonardo Castro limped off the pitch with a suspected hamstring injury and was replaced by Samir Nurkovic, who had been rested for this encounter in anticipation of the Mamelodi Sundowns match next week Thursday. 

However, he was ultimately booked deep into stoppage time for his fourth yellow card of the season - meaning he will be suspended for this crucial encounter.   

Stellenbosch took the lead through Skelem in the 35th minute after he connected brilliantly with Ashley de Preez's cross. 

Du Preez turned Ngezana inside out on the left-hand side before whipping a perfect cross into the box and Skelem made it two goals in two matches, beating Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya to the ball, and Daniel Akpeyi hands down. 

Things improved for Chiefs in the second half after the introduction of Kambole, Dumusani Zuma and Kgotso Moleko. 

And with Lebogang Manyama absent due to injury, Zuma was expected to be the link between the midfield and the strikers - and he did well soon after his introduction, taking the game to Stellenbosch without the fear of losing it. 

Kambole made an immediate impact upfront, but his 57th-minute effort was superbly palmed by Lee Langeveldt. 

Stellenbosch didn't show any respect towards Chiefs with Du Preez and Skelem giving the Amakhosi defence a torrid time with their pace in the final third. 

It was on the side of Ngezana that the pair looked more dangerous as the Chiefs defender was often beaten for pace. 

Chiefs would finally find the equaliser through Kambole in the 70th minute after he was picked out by Reeve Frosler. 

He chested the ball down, leaving his marker behind before finishing with his weaker foot from close range for what was his first goal since joining Amakhosi.   

Stellenbosch sat back after conceding that goal but they had the chance to steal the three points three minutes before time when Nyiko Mobbie picked out Du Preez inside the Amakhosi box, but the young attacker hit the wrong side of the net with only Akpeyi to beat.  

Ultimately, neither team could find the winner, but for Stellenbosch, this was a huge point and they remain unbeaten in the league since the return of football.

For Chiefs, this match represented a missed opportunity to have moved eight points clear of second-placed Sundowns. 

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Original author: Ernest Makhaya
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