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Talking Points: Kaizer Chiefs held by Richards Bay after Petersen howler

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Brandon Petersen of Kaizer Chiefs during the Betway Premiership 2026/27 match between Richards Bay FC and Kaizer Chiefs at Priness Magogo Stadium in Kwa Mashu on 26 August 2026 ©Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

Kaizer Chiefs remained unbeaten in the league this season but were held to a 2-2 draw away to Richards Bay in KwaMashu on Wednesday to move to eight points from their opening four matches of the campaign.

Richards Bay have yet to win this season but now have three draws and did have opportunities to win the game, twice going ahead but ultimately proving unable to hold their lead.

CHIEFS’ APPROACH
The visitors had the lion’s share of possession and applied constant pressure with a high tempo and a young, exciting line-up. But they let themselves down with mistakes and will be disappointed to have dropped points, which now leaves them two behind early leaders Orlando Pirates, the defending champions, and Mamelodi Sundowns, who won 5-2 at home to AmaZulu on Wednesday.

PETERSEN ERROR-PRONE
Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen continues to make the occasional calamitous error, which was the reason he was initially dropped when he first arrived at Chiefs, and he was horribly caught out by Nqaba Xulu in the ninth minute, dilly-dallying over a back-pass and giving the youthful striker the chance to catch him in possession after a poor first touch.
Xulu scored both goals, the second from a corner near the end of the first half, to continue the strong impression he has made since arriving from Milford at the start of the season.

WET WEATHER
A steady drizzle made conditions increasingly difficult for both teams, but to their credit they kept up a decent tempo. The pitch was not perfect, but not too bad either, and there can be no complaints from either side.
Richards Bay had to give up home advantage because the uMhlathuze Sports Complex is closed for field maintenance.
The game was then moved to Moses Mabhida Stadium, but that pitch is also still not up to scratch, so Richards Bay will have to play their next game against AmaZulu in KwaMashu again next Friday, September 4.

FIRST DRAW
This was the 10th meeting between the two clubs, but the first-ever draw. It was also the first time a clash between the two sides had produced more than three goals.
Chiefs went into the encounter with a 5-4 lead in previous meetings. Richards Bay had won their first-ever clash against Chiefs when they were still a second-division outfit, away in the Nedbank Cup.
Last season, both sides won their respective home games by 1-0 scorelines.