Given Msimango of Kaizer Chiefs challenges Thabelo Tshikweta of Polokwane City FC during the Betway Premiership match at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.
Image: BackpagePix
Old Peter Mokaba Stadium — THE 'RUNAWAY TRAIN' that was fast threatening to crash its way into an unlikely championship contention was stopped dead in its tracks at a Peter Mokaba Stadium packed to the rafters by its admirers.
Kaizer Chiefs' impressive run of victories — five successive wins before Saturday night — was halted before it reached a half-dozen. Amakhosi were held to a goalless draw by a Polokwane City side that gave as good as they got in an entertaining encounter watched by a capacity crowd.
The night belonged to goalkeepers Brandon Petersen and Lindokuhle Mathebula, who both pulled off a series of stupendous saves to ensure their teams took a point from this Betway Premiership encounter.
Petersen continued his quest to reclaim his place in the national team with yet another brilliant performance. Out of action for a while and having returned just three matches ago, Petersen was again exceptional between the posts. He pulled off spectacular saves in each half, flinging himself into the air to parry shots that had "goal" written all over them.
Just before the half-hour mark, as City managed to pierce the Chiefs rearguard, Mokibelo Ramabu smashed a mid-air volley towards goal. But Petersen was alert to the danger and did brilliantly to fist the ball away.
He made an almost identical save early in the second half as City pressed for the opener, Petersen again launching his big frame into the air to push a goal-bound shot wide.
It was not all Petersen, however, as Mathebula was also in superb form. The City number one, resplendent in all pink, is surely not getting a Christmas card from Glody Lilepo.
Twice in the match, Mathebula denied the Congolese striker, pushing Lilepo's free kicks away from the net. In the first half, with the match only eight minutes old, Chiefs thought they were in for yet another cruise to three points when Lilepo smashed the ball directly at goal, but Mathebula was having none of it.
It was a case of déjà vu in the second half: a free kick from the edge of the box saw Lilepo line up and duly smash it over the wall. Some Chiefs fans were already on their feet celebrating as the ball dipped under the crossbar, but Mathebula tipped the ball over with an inspired touch. It was clear it would take something special for either of the nets to bulge.
Late in the match, substitute Keorapetse Sebone nearly produced that moment when he outran the Chiefs defence. As he pulled the trigger, substitute Miguel Inacio — who had replaced the injured Aiden McCarthy just before half-time — got his foot to the ball to divert it for a corner.
The celebrations from both sets of fans focused on the men between the sticks, despite the Man of the Match award going to Lebogang Maboe.
City will no doubt be pleased they decided to play the match at their compact venue instead of the larger, new Peter Mokaba Stadium, where Chiefs might have benefited from the wider pitch.
However, it was concerning to see fans attempting to force their way into an already packed stadium deep into the second half. The decision to host this match at the 15,000-seater arena seemed ill-informed, with the club seemingly prioritising three points over spectator safety.
For the league to sanction this venue for a Chiefs fixture was risky; indeed, several scuffles broke out between security and fans during the match.
Stopped in their tracks ahead of the Soweto Derby against an Orlando Pirates side that is scoring at will, it will be interesting to see how Chiefs recover as they seek revenge for the first-round trouncing received from their arch-rivals.