KAIZER Chiefs could look back at last night's goalless draw against Bidvest Wits as the clash where they threw away the title.
They will know soon enough. With Knowledge Musona out injured and top scorer Bernard Parker on a worryingly dry spell - a total of 13 games without a goal in all competitions - Chiefs have been blunt up front at this critical stage of the Absa Premiership race.
The stalemate means that Amakhosi, the reigning league champions, no longer have their destiny in their own hands having given league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns the advantage in the final weeks of the championship chase. Only the strangest of results can put them back on the forefront as Chiefs now trail Sundowns by five points after 27 matches.
Amakhosi have a game in hand on the Brazilians, but they never really looked like they wanted it badly with Wits in the driving seat for much of this encounter. It's difficult seeing Downs, on a nine-game winning streak in the league, dropping points in their final two matches - especially after last night's blow to Chiefs' title hopes.
Wits, who are third on the Premier League standings, dominated proceedings here and their goalkeeper, Moeneeb Josephs, had little to do throughout the 90 minutes. Even when Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter rung the changes desperate for a winning goal, Wits still held their ground.
Substitute Katlego Mphela could have breached that defence in the dying moments, but his header ricocheted off the crossbar and back into play for the Wits defence to clear. The Chiefs bench knew instantly that it was now Sundowns' title to lose.
The Clever Boys were without a doubt the better side in the first half, former Chiefs man S'thembiso Ngcobo twice coming close to giving his team the lead when his shot in the 15th minute was pushed for a corner kick by Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune.
The in-form forward was again unlucky to see his 39th-minute header shave the crossbar in a moment where Khune had little-to- no-clear vision of the in-swinging corner kick from Jabulani Shongwe. Wits are out of the title race but they threw all they could at Amakhosi, putting in a performance worthy of Premier League contenders.
The two sides, along with Orlando Pirates, have the best defensive record in the current campaign and it wasn't surprising that when they went down the tunnel at the break, the match was goalless. Wits, especially, were solid following superb tackles from Siyabonga Nhlapo to break down Amakhosi's attacks.
Chiefs' remaining league matches are against Free State Stars, AmaZulu and AmaTuks - a game that was postponed from this Saturday to May 6 because of Chiefs' CAF commitments.
Chiefs' destiny out of their hands
KAIZER Chiefs could look back at last night's goalless draw against Bidvest Wits as the clash where they threw away the title.
They will know soon enough. With Knowledge Musona out injured and top scorer Bernard Parker on a worryingly dry spell - a total of 13 games without a goal in all competitions - Chiefs have been blunt up front at this critical stage of the Absa Premiership race.
The stalemate means that Amakhosi, the reigning league champions, no longer have their destiny in their own hands having given league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns the advantage in the final weeks of the championship chase. Only the strangest of results can put them back on the forefront as Chiefs now trail Sundowns by five points after 27 matches.
Amakhosi have a game in hand on the Brazilians, but they never really looked like they wanted it badly with Wits in the driving seat for much of this encounter. It's difficult seeing Downs, on a nine-game winning streak in the league, dropping points in their final two matches - especially after last night's blow to Chiefs' title hopes.
Wits, who are third on the Premier League standings, dominated proceedings here and their goalkeeper, Moeneeb Josephs, had little to do throughout the 90 minutes. Even when Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter rung the changes desperate for a winning goal, Wits still held their ground.
Substitute Katlego Mphela could have breached that defence in the dying moments, but his header ricocheted off the crossbar and back into play for the Wits defence to clear. The Chiefs bench knew instantly that it was now Sundowns' title to lose.
The Clever Boys were without a doubt the better side in the first half, former Chiefs man S'thembiso Ngcobo twice coming close to giving his team the lead when his shot in the 15th minute was pushed for a corner kick by Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune.
The in-form forward was again unlucky to see his 39th-minute header shave the crossbar in a moment where Khune had little-to- no-clear vision of the in-swinging corner kick from Jabulani Shongwe. Wits are out of the title race but they threw all they could at Amakhosi, putting in a performance worthy of Premier League contenders.
The two sides, along with Orlando Pirates, have the best defensive record in the current campaign and it wasn't surprising that when they went down the tunnel at the break, the match was goalless. Wits, especially, were solid following superb tackles from Siyabonga Nhlapo to break down Amakhosi's attacks.
Chiefs' remaining league matches are against Free State Stars, AmaZulu and AmaTuks - a game that was postponed from this Saturday to May 6 because of Chiefs' CAF commitments.
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