Polokwane City 1–1 Kaizer Chiefs ended Amakhosi’s bid for back-to-back Betway Premiership wins at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday, 12 September 2026. Lebohang Maboe’s outstanding first-half finish was cancelled out by an unfortunate Brandon Petersen error, and the dropped points saw Chiefs slip to fourth as AmaZulu leapfrogged them.
Polokwane City 1–1 Kaizer Chiefs: Match Details
- Fixture: Polokwane City 1–1 Kaizer Chiefs
- Competition: Betway Premiership 2026/27, Round 6
- Date: Saturday, 12 September 2026
- Venue: Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane
- Half-time: 0–1
- Goalscorers: Lebohang Maboe 29′ (Chiefs); Brandon Petersen 73′ own goal (Polokwane City)
First Half: Petersen Saves, Then Maboe Delivers
Rise and Shine started the brighter side and should have led. Around the 20th minute Brandon Petersen produced two outstanding point-blank saves in quick succession — first from a powerful, towering header by Ndamulelo Maphangule, then moments later from Keorapetse Sebone’s awkwardly bouncing effort.
Mfundo Vilakazi had been Chiefs’ main threat, manoeuvring into space on the edge of the box in the 15th minute and later forcing a diving save from Oscarine Masuluke with his weaker right foot in the 27th. Two minutes later the value of Petersen’s saves became clear.
Lebohang Maboe timed a late run into the box perfectly, took Pule Mmodi’s incisive pass over the defence with a sensational first touch, and slotted past Masuluke with an equally composed finish. Bradley Cross nearly doubled the lead in the 42nd minute with a header from Reeve Frosler’s corner on his return from injury, but Masuluke saved. Chiefs led 1–0 at the break, just reward for a positive half.
Second Half: The Corner That Changed It
Etiosa Ighodaro came close to opening his league account five minutes after the restart, only for another sprawling Masuluke save to deny him. As the clock ran down Polokwane City committed more men forward, and Amakhosi defended it well with brave, timely blocks around the edge of their area.
Then, in the 73rd minute, the goal arrived from the one place Chiefs had not been troubled in open play. Giovanni Philander swung in an inswinging corner and Petersen somehow squeezed it into his own net at his near post.
Coach Fernando da Cruz sent on Luke Baartman and Faiz Abrahams to freshen the attack. Baartman almost set up fellow substitute Adolf Mtasingwa, whose close-range header was blocked virtually on the goal line, and Abrahams’ acrobatic 88th-minute volley flashed wide. Polokwane held on for an unlikely point.
Key Moments Timeline
- 15′ – Mfundo Vilakazi’s effort lacks the power to beat Masuluke
- 20′ – Petersen denies Maphangule and Sebone with two point-blank saves
- 29′ – GOAL: Lebohang Maboe controls Pule Mmodi’s pass and finishes (0–1)
- 42′ – Masuluke saves Bradley Cross’ header from a Frosler corner
- 73′ – GOAL: Giovanni Philander’s corner squeezes past Petersen at his near post (1–1)
- 88′ – Faiz Abrahams’ acrobatic volley flashes wide
Line-Ups
Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen (c), Miguel (Kwinika 67′), Moloisane, Frosler (Solomons 77′), Cross, Mthethwa, Maboe, Ndlovu (Mtasingwa 67′), Mmodi, Vilakazi (Abrahams 82′), Ighodaro (Baartman 77′). Subs not used: Leaner, Mako, Velebayi, Shabalala. Coach: Fernando da Cruz.
Polokwane City: Masuluke, Manthosi, Modise, Nkaki (c), Ramaja, Maphungule (Mnguni 53′), Kambala, Matube, Sebone (Philander 46′), Dlamini, Molokwane. Subs not used: Ngwenya, Mashele, Mvundlela, Batlhabane, Mosotho, Mashinini, Malatsi. Coach: Bayano Machete Moloto.
What It Means in the Standings
Chiefs occupy fourth place with 12 points from six fixtures and maintain their unbeaten start, but unbeaten is not the same as convincing — AmaZulu’s win moved them above Amakhosi. Polokwane City sit seventh. Chiefs travel to face Lamontville Golden Arrows next, a fixture since relocated to Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
Betting Insights
- Chiefs draws: The unbeaten run has come with a high draw rate. Draw and double-chance markets remain live in Chiefs away fixtures.
- Set pieces: The equaliser came direct from a corner — Polokwane City are a genuine dead-ball threat at home.
- Goalkeeper risk: This was another costly Petersen moment and a real factor when pricing Chiefs clean-sheet markets.
- Low totals: Under 2.5 goals remains the sensible baseline in Polokwane City fixtures.
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Player of the Match: Lebohang Maboe
The first touch to kill Mmodi’s pass and the composure to finish made this the outstanding piece of quality in the match. Maboe earned the Man of the Match accolade and his second goal of the season — and deserved to be on the winning side.
Final Word
Polokwane City 1–1 Kaizer Chiefs was a frustrating afternoon for Amakhosi. They created the better chances, led at the break, defended City’s open play comfortably, and still dropped two points to a freak goal. The unbeaten record survives; the conversion problem does not go away.
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Sources
- Premier Soccer League (official) — “Polokwane hold Chiefs at home”
- Kaizer Chiefs FC (official) — “Polokwane snatch late equaliser to deny Chiefs victory”
- IOL — “Brandon Petersen blunder costs Kaizer Chiefs”
- VAVEL — “Petersen own goal hands Polokwane City a 1-1 draw with Chiefs”
- Afrik-Foot — “Petersen blunders again as Kaizer Chiefs share spoils with Polokwane”
- GHANAsoccernet — “Polokwane City 1-1 Kaizer Chiefs: Maboe opener cancelled out by Petersen”
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