Kaizer Chiefs missed an opportunity to climb up to eighth place on the PSL standings after they drew 1-1 with their Soweto rivals Swallows FC at FNB Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Kagiso Malinga broke the deadlock to hand the Beautiful Birds an early lead, but Amakhosi showed character as they fought back and grabbed an equalizing goal through Leonardo Castro.

Amakhosi were determined to get their hopes of finishing in the top eight back on track after they extended their winless run to three matches when they lost 2-1 to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila on May 4.

Willard Katsande, Daniel Cardoso and Castro made their return to the starting line-up as Gavin Hunt’s side looked to avenge the 1-0 defeat to Swallows in the first round league clash in November 2020.

While the Beautiful Birds, who had extended their winless run to four matches with a 1-1 draw against Maritzburg United on April 30, were looking to boost their ambitions of qualifying in a Caf club tournament. 

Coach Brandon Truter recalled Malinga and Musa Nyatama to the starting line-up with the Soweto giants looking to complete a league double over a struggling Chiefs side.

Swallows pressed the Chiefs defence which had failed to keep a clean sheet in their last seven league games with Malinga using his physique to bully Amakhosi captain Ramahlwe Mphahlele.

Malinga netted his first-ever goal in the top flight after he got in front of Mphahlele and turned home a cross from Sfiso Hlanti to hand Swallows a 1-0 lead just eight minutes into the Soweto Derby encounter.

However, the Beautiful Birds sat back and they allowed Amakhosi to control the match and the hosts managed to level matters after Happy Mashiane’s header had hit the upright from Siyabonga Ngezana’s cross.

Castro reacted quickly and headed home from the rebound to make it 1-1 in the 15th minute as the Colombian hitman marked his return to the starting line-up with his fifth goal of the season in the league.

Malinga continued to torment the Amahosi defence and he knocked the ball down in a challenge with Mphahlele, but Lebohang Mokoena hit the upright with a first-time shot and the score was 1-1 at the interval.

Chiefs were the better side in the opening stages of the second half with Hunt having introduced attack-minded full-back Reeve Frosler and speedy forward Dumisani Zuma prior to the restart.

Castro, who was hungry for goals on the night, had a chance to hand Amakhosi the lead for the first time when he connected with Bernard Parker’s set-piece, but the ball went just over the crossbar.

The Beautiful Birds were not willing to settle for a draw as they were surging forward with Truter having introduced Joseph Mhlongo, who scored the winning goal against Chiefs in the first round clash.

It was end-to-end stuff in the closing stages as Mhlongo’s effort was saved by Chiefs keeper Bruce Bvuma and Swallows shot-stopper Virgil Vries blocked Samir Nurkovic’s attempt at the other end.

Neither side was able to find the winning goal and ultimately, the match ended in a 1-1 draw with Chiefs and Swallows sharing the spoils on the night.

The draw saw Chiefs remain 10th on the league standings – two points behind eighth-placed TS Galaxy, who have a game in hand, and Amakhosi will now face Tanzanian giants Simba SC in the Caf Champions League on Saturday.

While Swallows also remained fifth on the standings – two points behind third-placed Lamontville Golden Arrows, but the Beautiful Birds have a game in hand and they are set to take on Stellenbosch FC in a PSL game on May 18.

It was Swallows’ 17th league draw of the current season and they equalled the record for the most draws in a single PSL campaign.