Kaizer Chiefs came from a goal down to secure a 1-1 draw against Golden Arrows at the FNB Stadium in the Absa Premiership on Tuesday evening, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.

Chiefs came from a goal down to force a 1-1 draw against Abafana Bes’thende in a match that they needed to win to cement their place in the top eight.

Ernst Middendorp’s side came into this encounter after advancing to the Nedbank Cup final, following their 4-2 victory over Chippa United in the last quarter-final at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium last weekend.

By contrast, Steve Komphela’s men were eliminated from the same tournament after falling to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of National First Division outfit TS Galaxy at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium this past weekend.

The last time these two sides met, Arrows came out 2-1 winners on home soil in December 2018.

The home side showed their intent early on and dominated proceedings in the opening exchanges of the match.

Dumisani Zuma and Philani Zulu combined well down the left wing after 15 minutes before Zulu made space for a shot. However, the Chiefs attacker could only guide his effort into the side netting.

Zulu almost handed his side the lead in the 27th minute when he unleashed a strike from distance, which could only rattle the woodwork.

Chiefs missed a golden opportunity moments later when Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya picked out Bernard Parker in the area before he chested the ball into the path of an unmarked Hendrick Ekstein, who failed to hit the target from close range.

However, Arrows took the lead in the 34th minute against the run of play when Nduduzo Sibiya curled his effort into the back of the net after taking a deflection off of two Amakhosi defenders.

Amakhosi nearly levelled matters early in the second half when Daniel Cardoso rattled the woodwork with a volley, before Zulu headed the ball on to the crossbar seconds later before Arrows cleared the ball to safety.

The home side felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the 64th minute after Zuma was brought down agonisingly close to the 18-yard area. But the referee called for a free kick, which Chiefs failed to capitalise.

Chiefs persistence paid off and levelled matters after 77 minutes when Kgotso Moleko headed the ball past Mbaeva after latching on to a cross at the near post.

Cardoso should have handed his side the lead three minutes later, but the Chiefs defender blazed his header narrowly wide of the target with Mbaeva well-beaten.

Both sides pushed forward in the closing stages of the game, but were forced to share the spoils at the FNB Stadium.