Polokwane City’s Puleng Tlolane scored a cracking volley to cancel out Erick Mathoho’s goal and deny defending champions Kaizer Chiefs the three points as they finished 1-1 in their Absa Premiership tie on Tuesday night at Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Although both sides played entertaining football, it was the visitors who first threatened to strike home when defender Tsepo Masilela unleashed a long range shot but it went wide of goalkeeper Pule Konopi’s posts as early as the sixth minute.

In an aim to retaliate, Kostadin Papic’s men displayed good touches in the middle of the park exchanging good passes but failed to penetrate Chiefs' defence manned by Siyanda Xulu and Mathoho.

Both sides failed to find the back of the net by the 20th minute mark, however, Rise and Shine received a number of set pieces which they failed to use to their advantage. In the 31st minute, Mathoho found himself in the penalty area to pounce on an error by City. Defender Sibusiso Mbonani handled the ball and was penalised for a free kick which they failed to defend allowing the lanky defender, Mathoho, to pounce with his right foot.

In the last few minutes of the first stanza, City put Chiefs under siege but skipper Jabu Maluleke’s attempt from long range could not trouble Itumeleng Khune as Amakhosi went into the tunnel leading by 1-0.

As soon as both outfits hit the pitch for the second half, the Citizens were the busiest of the two as they attacked Steve Komphela’s men, however, Chiefs also pushed forward but City cleared the danger as Bernard Parker tried to play in Sphelele Mthembu.

In the 56th minute, Reneilwe Letsholonyane took a shot which was not good enough to trouble Konopi as he safely held on but it was a moment of brilliance that changed the game in the 62nd minute when Randy Ngobe released a thunderbolt to beat Khune and hit the woodwork, allowing Puleng Tlolane to finish it off with a classy volley to level matters.

The dying minutes of the thrilling encounter was dominated by fouls and it was the hosts who showed hunger substitute Tokelo Langa's attempt went wide off Khune's posts. However, the defending champions nearly scored when Langa cleared Tshabalala’s corner off the by-line.

Both sides settled for the draw and Amakhosi take position two on the log standings with five points behind Mpumalanga Black Aces who have seven points while the Citizens occupy the seventh spot with four points.

Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Mathoho 31’)

Polokwane City (0) 1 (Tlolane 63’)

Teams:

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Mathoho, Masilela, Gaxa, Xulu, Katsande, Tshabalala, Parker (Maluleka 81’), Letsholonyane, Lebese (Karuru 88’), Mthembu (Ndulula 60’)

Polokwane City: Konopi, Ndou (Mncwango 69’), Mbonani, Masenamela, Nyadombo, Maluleke, Tema (Langa 78’), Nene, Jacobs, Ngobe (Shiba 88’), Tlolane