Wasteful Chiefs fail to close in on Pirates after frustrating draw with Chippa

Kaizer Chiefs missed an opportunity to cut Orlando Pirates’ lead to three points following a goalless draw with basement side Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Wednesday.

Chiefs headed into the match six points behind bitter rivals Pirates, who are top of the table, and knew three points would reduce the gap but wasted a number of opportunities that would have seen them score.

The first great opportunity for Amakhosi came in the 33^rd minute when Flavio da Silva missed from close range. Asanele Velebayi brought in a delicious diagonal ball and Silva, at the back post with only the goalkeeper to beat, somehow failed to connect well.

Amakhosi would get another chance on the stroke of halftime when they won possession higher up the pitch with Lebohang Maboe passing to Valabayi who was in a good position to score only to fire over the bar.

Chiefs miss from one-on-one situations

Instead, Chiefs would have paid for the miss when Asanele Bonani received the ball on the edge of the box and fired a great shot but also saw it go over.

After a goalless first half, it was Chippa who had the first good chance which fell to former Pirates man Bienvenu Eva Nga and the Cameroonian fired in a ferocious shot that drew a good save from Brandon Petersen.

Chiefs were this close to three points in Gqeberha 👀🤏#SSDiski | #BetwayPrem | @McDonalds_SA pic.twitter.com/ONRb9mWw64

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) December 3, 2025

That was in the 69^th minute and one minute later, Chiefs should have broken the deadlock. Silva found Mfundo Vilakazi in the box and the young midfielder turned and found himself with only goalkeeper Dumsani Msibi to beat but he somehow failed to find the target from close range.

Where does the draw leave Amakhosi?

Shabalala would get another chance seven minutes later but skied it while his poor decision-making in stoppage time saw him take the wrong pass after winning possession in a good area as Chippa stayed resolute to force a draw.

Chiefs have now gone three games without a win while the draw sees them drop down to fifth place on the log with 23 points, five behind leaders Pirates, three adrift of second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns while Sekhukhune United have 25 and AmaZulu with 24.

It was the penultimate match of the year for Chiefs who will face TS Galaxy on Sunday, hoping to return to winning ways.