Attacker Lebogang Manyama scored a dramatic equaliser in the dying minutes as Kaizer Chiefs salvaged a 1-1 PSL draw away to Maritzburg United after Thabiso Kutumela had opened the scoring at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Wednesday.
The stalemate means that Gavin Hunt’s side, who remain in 11th place in the Premiership standings, have now gone five league games without a win as the pressure continues to mount on the coach.
Maritzburg, meanwhile, who were within touching distance of victory, remain in 15th position on the log.
By the end, their coach Ernst Middendorp was left visibly and audibly frustrated, unable to get one over the club who he came so close to winning the league with last season.
Maritzburg United took the lead somewhat against the run of play in the 14th minute through Kutumela after some impressive work by Ali Meza, who grabbed the assist after a sweeping counter-attack.
The home side had their tails up after breaking the deadlock with Meza especially looking dangerous, popping up in different attacking positions as he posed a threat to a disorientated Chiefs defence.
Maritzburg United should have doubled their lead in the 19th minute after Bongokuhle Hlongwane somehow put the ball over the crossbar from an uncontested header from just five yards out.
Meza was again proving a handful to the Chiefs defence as he cut in, this time from the right side, and blasted a powerful shot straight down the throat of a grateful Daniel Akpeyi.
Hlongwane was next to have a shot saved by Akpeyi in the 36th minute after cutting inside Reeve Frosler. Maritzburg up until that point had registered nine shots at goal to zero for Chiefs.
That’s how the two teams went into the half-time break with Maritzburg holding a narrow lead.
The half-time stats showed the home side enjoying the majority of the ball with 55% possession.
Hunt looked to turn things around at the interval by making three changes as Siyabonga Ngezana replaced Philani Zulu at left-back, Samir Nurkovic replaced Lazarous Kambole and Willard Katsande made way for Njabulo Blom.
Chiefs nearly found an equaliser early in the second-half in the 46th minute as a Frosler free-kick was narrowly deflected behind for a corner.
Maritzburg almost killed the game off as a contest in the 77th minute as substitute Judas Moseamedi beat two Chiefs defenders before thumping a shot against the crossbar.
Chiefs finally grabbed their equaliser in the closing stages of the match in the 87th minute as Manyama got on the end of a Bernard Parker near-post flick to head home from close range.
That’s how the match ended as Chiefs maintained some daylight between them and the bottom of the table.
Maritzburg will feel disappointed with one that got away.
