By Michael Madyira
Kaizer Chiefs missed an opportunity to regroup after unfriendly weather conditions forced a stoppage of their Premier Soccer League clash with Moroka Swallows on Saturday.
A heavy downpour and lightning at FNB Stadium had action suspended in the 57th minute before play resumed just over an hour later. The encounter finished goalless.
On an evening where Amakhosi struggled to break down a stubborn Swallows side, they did have the skies to thank for a second chance.
Following Edmilson Dove’s red card, however, they continued firing blanks and might have blamed the stoppage for killing their momentum.
It was another bad day at the office as Amakhosi failed to recover from last weekend’s Nedbank Cup embarrassment.
After collecting just a point, Chiefs remain sixth on the table as they pray the result will not further sap out their morale ahead of next Saturday’s Soweto Derby showdown against traditional foes Orlando Pirates.
Amakhosi coach Cavin Johnson finally succumbed to the pressure, starting Keagan Dolly while Pule Mmodi also returned to the starting line up.
Happy Mashiane was unusually assigned to the left-back role in place of Sifiso Hlanti.
Ex-Orlando Pirates midfielder Augustine Mahlonoko and Burkina Faso linkman Roland Sanou surprisingly found themselves on the Swallows bench.
Amakhosi relied on wing-play for the better part of the first half, but most crosses found no finishers inside the box.
After 20 minutes, Ashley du Preez thought he had given Chiefs the lead but his goal was ruled out for offside.
Two minutes into the second-half, Amakhosi went a man down following the sending off of Dove after he had brought down a charging Frank Mhango on the edge of the box.
Once play resumed, it was Swallows who nearly took the lead, with Falakhe Tshanini forcing a spectacular save from Bruce Bvuma in what was the visitors’ first realistic chance at goal.
The Amakhosi goalkeeper then became busy as the Dube Birds took control of proceedings until the end — but no side found the back of the net.
Pictured above: Kaizer Chiefs central midfielder Edson Castillo tries to control play against Moroka Swallows
Image source: Kaizer Chiefs
