Kaizer Chiefs dropped points in the Absa Premiership after playing to a 1-1 draw against Polokwane City at FNB Stadium on Tuesday night.

The result leaves Chiefs in third place on the league standings with 39 points, seven adrift of leaders Mamelodi Sundowns but having played a game more.

The draw for Polokwane see them remain in 13th place with 22 points from 21 games.

Chiefs started positively with the first effort on goal in the fourth minute when Camaldine Abraw got on the end of a George Maluleka cross, but the former headed wide of the target.

Polokwane threatened for the first time in the tenth minute when Muzikayifani Ngidi met a cross from Thobani Mncwango, but his header also went inches wide of the post.

Maluleka came close to breaking the deadlock five minutes later when Lucky Baloyi slipped him through on goal, but the Glamour Boy was superbly denied in a one-on-one situation with the keeper.

In the 25th minute Willard Katsande missed a sitter when he met a right-sided free-kick from Siphiwe Tshabalala, but under no pressure the Zimbabwean volleyed wide from close range.

Just after the half hour mark Polokwane took the lead when Mncwango snuck in front of the Chiefs defence at the front post to head home a right-sided free-kick from Maluleke, 1-0.

Chiefs, though, hit back five minutes later when Erick Mathoho headed home a Tshabalala corner-kick, 1-1.

Polokwane nearly took the lead two minutes before the break when a long range free-kick from Maluleke struck the crossbar.

The half ended 1-1.

Eight minutes into the second half Maluleka was inches away from finding Chiefs’ second goal when his 24-yard free-kick shaved the wrong side of the crossbar.

On the hour mark a clever back-heel from Abraw slipped Bernard Parker through on goal, but Polokwane goalkeeper George Chigova was quickly off his line to thwart him.

In the 73rd minute Abraw turned provider when his right-wing cross was met by Maluleka, but the Chiefs man saw his 12-yard volley brilliantly saved by the keeper.

Ten minutes later Abraw thought he had found the winner following a goalmouth scramble, but his goal was disallowed due to a foul on the Polokwane keeper.

Chiefs continued to press for a winner, but could not penetrate a stubborn Polokwane defence and had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Mathoho 36’)

Polokwane City (1) 1 (Mncwango 31’)

Teams

Chiefs: Pieterse, Cardoso, Gordinho, Mathoho, Masilela (Twala 59’), Katsande, Baloyi, Maluleka, Parker (Matovu 78’), Tshabalala, Abraw.

Polokwane: Chigova, Phungwayo, Hlongwane, Tshilo, Nyadombo, Motumi, Jacobs (Tlolane 81’), Ngidi (Nene 77’), Alexander, Mncwango (Jembula 94’), J. Maluleke.