A late leveller from Bidvest Wits denied Kaizer Chiefs all three points on the Glamour Boys’ return to action. SoccerClub writer DEAN WORKMAN highlights five talking points from the encounter.
After Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates played out to a draw on Tuesday evening, Ernst Middendorp’s men were looking to go six points clear at the top of the league standings when they faced the Clever Boys on Wednesday.
All looked to be going to plan when Nurkovic netted his 12th goal of the season when he headed home Lebogang Manayama’s corner with 36 minutes gone.
Gavin Hunt’s men, though, refused to go down quietly following the club’s sale, and managed to find an equaliser through Cole Alexander with a minute of the ninety to play.
Amakhosi dropped two points in the title race while Wits showed resilience in abundance.
The five main talking points from the game:
1) Missed opportunity for Chiefs
With Mamelodi Sundowns dropping points in their first game back against Orlando Pirates, Amakhosi had the chance to take a big step towards the title and ending the longest trophy drought in their history by moving six points clear with a win.
They, however, were forced to settle for a draw as the title race looks to be going down to the wire.
2) Wits won’t go quietly
After pushing Sundowns all the way in the Nedbank Cup semi-final, the Clever Boys yet put in another reslient performance considering all that is going on off the pitch.
With the club having been sold, the end of the 2019-20 season will be their ‘Last Dance’ and Hunt and his charges are ensuring that the club does not go out with a whimper.
3) Nurkovic, Manyama still the main threat
Nurkovic managed to bag his 12th goal of the season against Wits and remains firmly in the hunt for the Golden Boot. His goal was provided yet again from a set piece taken by Manyama, in what has become a regular occurrence for Chiefs this season. With over 48% of their goals coming from set plays, Chiefs continue to look deadly from the dead ball.
4) Ngcobo returns for Chiefs, Human shines for Wits
Nkosingiphile Ngcobo was impressive as he made his way back into the Chiefs side following a lengthy injury lay-off. The youngster filled the void left by the departed George Maluleka and will have the Amakhosi faithful excited about his potential.
Wits, meanwhile, started with a youngster of their own, Rowan Human. The forward was labelled as the best player of his age in the country by coach Hunt and showed just why he is so highly rated with a commendable performance.
5) Billiat still struggling to recapture form
He was missing his trademark hairstyle after coming back from lockdown and seemed to be missing his form as well. Middendorp still appears to be struggling to find a way to get the best out of the Zimbabwean, who has failed to hit the heights he achieved while in the yellow of Sundowns.
