Football: Kaizer Chiefs stretch lead despite draw

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(Globalpost/GlobalPost)

Kaizer Chiefs stretched their South African Premiership lead to three points Saturday despite being held 1-1 at home by Wits University.

Ryan Champman put the 'Clever Boys' ahead on 10 minutes at Soccer City and Siphiwe Tshabalala equalised before half-time in a lively game littered with scoring chances.

Chiefs thought they had won the game eight minutes from time when Tefu Mashamaite headed home, but his effort was correctly disallowed for fouling Chapman.

A Wits side guided by 1996 Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach Clive Barker were much improved from last Saturday when they crumbled 3-0 at home against Chiefs in a South African FA Cup tie.

Chiefs are on 43 points, three more than arch rivals Orlando Pirates, who have a game in hand as they were involved in the CAF Champions League preliminary round this weekend.

Pirates and Chiefs clash at Soccer City next Saturday before a sell-out 90,000 crowd in a fixture set to have a crucial bearing on the outcome of the richest African football league with a $1.2 million (921,800-euro) first prize.

Free State Stars, who are fourth on the table, failed to take advantage of Chiefs' slip as they lost 1-0 at lowly Golden Arrows with Thanduyise Khuboni hitting a late winner from the penalty spot.

Bloemfontein Celtic moved within three points of Stars after a laboured 1-0 home victory against bottom club Chippa United with Lerato Manzini finishing a cross from Botswana star Joel Mogorosi on 77 minutes.

Moroka Swallows slumped 2-1 at home to relegation-threatened AmaZulu four days after a thrilling 3-2 comeback win over Pirates. Joseph Malongoane pounced on a rebound to score the winner eight minutes from time.

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http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130302/football-kaizer-chiefs-stretch-lead-despite-draw