Kaizer Chiefs lose ground with Jomo Cosmos draw

JOHANNESBURG – They huffed and they puffed and found themselves with a host of scoring opportunities, but ultimately Kaizer Chiefs entangled themselves in Jomo Cosmos’ disciplined, defensive web during a goalless Premier League draw at FNB Stadium on Saturday night.

In the process, Amakhosi’s hopes of retaining the League title for a third successive year took a further nosedive following on the comprehensive 3-1 defeat at the hands of log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday. On a damp, uncomfortable night that increasingly matched the mood of the frustrated Chiefs’ supporters in a 12 000 crowd, Amakhosi emerged from a tight, intense encounter a point behind Sundowns – but from two extra games and with a vastly inferior goal difference.Yet, it could have been a different story had David Radebe not ballooned the ball over the crossbar in the 62nd minute when a raking, pin-point pass from Ugandan international David Obua left the Chiefs’ striker in a position from which it looked easier to score than miss.Ten minutes later the ball was cleared off the goal line after a frantic scrimmage in the Cosmos’ penalty area and Chiefs’ shots from long range by Fabian McCarthy and Patrick Mayo whistled over the crossbar.Generally, Cosmos contained the Chiefs and deserved a share of the spoils for their discipline and tight marking in defence – and ability to transform play with incisive counter-attacks.It was only in the final 15 minutes that Cosmos lost a measure of their composure and surrendered possession all too easily with wild and aimless clearances.* In a midweek match played on Wednesday, Kaizer Chiefs lost 3-1 to Mamelodi Sundowns.-SupersoccerOn a damp, uncomfortable night that increasingly matched the mood of the frustrated Chiefs’ supporters in a 12 000 crowd, Amakhosi emerged from a tight, intense encounter a point behind Sundowns – but from two extra games and with a vastly inferior goal difference.Yet, it could have been a different story had David Radebe not ballooned the ball over the crossbar in the 62nd minute when a raking, pin-point pass from Ugandan international David Obua left the Chiefs’ striker in a position from which it looked easier to score than miss.Ten minutes later the ball was cleared off the goal line after a frantic scrimmage in the Cosmos’ penalty area and Chiefs’ shots from long range by Fabian McCarthy and Patrick Mayo whistled over the crossbar.Generally, Cosmos contained the Chiefs and deserved a share of the spoils for their discipline and tight marking in defence – and ability to transform play with incisive counter-attacks.It was only in the final 15 minutes that Cosmos lost a measure of their composure and surrendered possession all too easily with wild and aimless clearances.* In a midweek match played on Wednesday, Kaizer Chiefs lost 3-1 to Mamelodi Sundowns.-Supersoccer