Kaizer Chiefs and Chippa United play to goalless stalemate in PSL opener

Chiefs gave four new signings their debuts in the form of Ranga Chivaviro, Edson Castillo, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe and Given Msimango. Meanwhile, Goodman Mosele and Augustine Mulenga were making their debuts for the Chilli Boys.

Both sides were looking rusty and struggling to maintain any sense of fluidity but Mduduzi Shabalala did have a sight at goal for Chiefs after a quarter of an hour when he caught the goalkeeper off his line. However, his lobbed effort went narrowly wide.

The match was even in terms of possession and on the half-hour mark Chippa built up a good attack which culminated in Augustine Mulenga heading the ball into Chiefs' goalkeeper Brandon Peterson's hands from Azola Matrose's cross.

Chiefs were on the front foot but looking tentative in the final third. The Chilli Boys came back into the match as half-time neared.

Ball possession remained remarkably even even in the second half. Both sides were looking nervy and lacking confidence in the final third.

Siphelele Luthuli attempted an ambitious shot for Chippa but it went over the bar. Christian Saile responded with a long-distance effort for Chiefs but it was gobbled up gratefully by Chippa gloveman Lloyd Kazapua.

Chippa made a triple change as Luvuyo Memela, Ronaldo Maarman and Sergio Kammies replaced Azola Ntsabo, Luthuli and Velemseni Ndwandwe on the hour mark. Amakhosi fans were growing frustrated and signalling for a substitution, which meant Molefi Ntseki turned to his bench and brought pacy attacker Ashley du Preez onto the pitch for Shabalala.

Du Preez was not receiving the right sort of service but did give Chippa a couple of headaches with his searing pace.

Neither side were able to carve out any meaningful opportunities from then on out as the match fizzled out to a rather dour goalless draw in the end.

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