Kaizer Chiefs edge closer to ending trophy drought

JOHANNESBURG: Famed South African club Kaizer Chiefs edged closer to ending a trophy drought by drawing 2-2 at SuperSport United Sunday in the first leg of an early-season cup semi-final.

The clubs meet again in the MTN8 this Saturday when the Soweto outfit will enjoy home advantage as they seek their first silverware in four seasons. Chiefs have won 53 domestic trophies since their formation 48 years ago and recent failures to increase that total have seen crowds dwindle alarmingly. Away goals count double should there be an aggregate stalemate so those scored by Zimbabwean and Colombian Leonardo Castro for Chiefs could prove especially precious. Between those goals, Bradley Grobler bagged a brace for title-holders SuperSport to give the Pretoria outfit a 2-1 half-time advantage.

Although Grobler was named man of the match, both coaches hailed Billiat, reportedly the top earner in South African football with a 10 million ($910,000, 600,000 euros) annual salary.

"Khama is the best footballer in South Africa," said Giovanni Solinas, the recently hired Italian coach of Chiefs. Zimbabwe-born SuperSport coach Kaitano Tembo said: "Khama is a very intelligent footballer and he created a lot of problems for us today."

On Saturday, Cape Town City, runners-up to SuperSport in the MTN8 last season, built a 1-0 home lead over Mamelodi Sundowns in the other first leg. A tight tussle that offered few scoring chances was settled by a snap 75th-minute shot from Taariq Fielies after visitors failed to clear a corner.