Kaizer Chiefs battled back to draw 1-1 with ten-man AmaZulu in their MTN8 semi-final first leg clash on Sunday afternoon.
Chiefs were unchanged from their win over SuperSport United, as Ashley Du Preez and Kgaogelo Sekgota were on either side of Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana while Usuthu were boosted by the return of Abbubaker Mobara.
READ | MTN8: Kaizer Chiefs 1-1 AmaZulu
The game got off to a pacey start as Gabadinho Mhango and Dumisani Zuma tested goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune from the same action, as AmaZulu threatened on transitions.
Chiefs were eager to get an early goal with promising strikes from range but they were caught on a counter-attack on 14 minutes as Mhango gave the visitors the lead with a low strike across Khune after he was released by George Maluleka.
Arthur Zwane's charges remained on the front foot and came close to restoring parity around the half-hour mark after Du Preez's low strike was tipped around the post by the out-stretched shot-stopper Veli Mothwa.
The Glamour Boys maintained their intensity and they should have levelled matters just before the halftime break after Du Preez guided a rebound over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy after he was initially denied by Mothwa.
Bimenyimana had a big chance for Chiefs in the last kick of the first stanza after he latched onto a corner unmarked in the box but guided his volleyed effort wide, off his knee.
Zwane made a tactical change at half-time as Dolly came on for Siyethemba Sithebe and they looked more dangerous going forward as Bimenyimana missed another sitter early in the second stanza.
The game turned on its head ten minutes from the interval after Usuthu were reduced to ten men after Veluyeke Zulu got a second yellow card and was sent off.
Chiefs had the momentum and Dolly eventually levelled matters on the hour-mark with a first-time strike in the box after a cut-back by Dillan Solomons.
Amakhosi looked to keep more of the ball with a numerical advantage in the last 15 minutes as Nkosingiphile Ngcobo replaced Du Preez.
Usuthu were absorbing the pressure in the closing stages, as the Glamour Boys squeezed them back in their own half.
Bimenyimana came close to netting the winner for Chiefs five minutes before time with a glancing header in the box that missed the bottom corner by a whisker after a cross by Kgaogelo Sekgota.
There was late drama off the pitch in the tail end as Gabadinho Mhango and a technical member were sent off on the bench for AmaZulu, as the encounter finished all square.
Confirmed line-ups:
Kaizer Chiefs: Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Solomons, Dove, Kwinika, Hlanti, Blom, Maart, Sithebe, Du Preez, Sekgota, Bimenyimana
Subs: Bvuma, Dolly, Ngezana, Alexander, Frosler, Nj. Ngcobo, Matlou, Nk. Ngcobo, Mahlatsi
AmaZulu: Mothwa, Gumede, Hanamub, Zulu, Khumalo, Mobara, Makhaula, Buchanan, Maluleka, Mhango, Zuma
Subs: Amonome, Mabaliso, Mukumela, Mphahlele, Malepe, Brooks, Kunene, Bwalya, Majoro
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