League championships are won by accumulating thousands of turning points. Routine tackles, throw-ins and offside traps can be just as pivotal as magnificent goals. But some of those pivotal moments can mean more in hindsight because they symbolise a side's strongest qualities.
And if Kaizer Chiefs do capture their first Premier Soccer League title in eight years next month, then Mulomowandau Mathoho's immense equalising header against Maritzburg United will be remembered as one of the defining acts of their season.
Maritzburg goalkeeper Shuaib Walters might have saved it, and perhaps Itumeleng Khune would have. But it took memorable skill and guts by the giant defender from Venda to power the ball into the net from 15m out. It was a resounding nonverbal statement to his anxious teammates: "We can do this thing."
Even the most zealous Orlando Pirates fans are beginning to admit that Stuart Baxter's Amakhosi can do this thing. Like the all-conquering Buccaneers did in the past two seasons, this Chiefs generation bears all the hallmarks of a happy and mature side. They've lost only one match – to Platinum Stars in November. Excellence and/or consistency is being supplied in all positions.
For example, the net-busting duties have been evenly shared between Bernard Parker, Lehlohonolo Majoro and Kingston Nkhatha – but their slight loss of form since the Afcon break has been well covered by regular goalscoring contributions from midfielders and defenders.
Khune has been exceptional throughout the campaign, pitching in with a catalogue of turning points. Yet again he staved off defeat on Wednesday night with some astonishing reflex saves.
Talented centrebacks|
Meanwhile, Baxter has impressed on the chalkboard by finding a way to start with his three talented centrebacks – Mathoho, Morgan Gould and Tefu Mashamaite. The 3-5-2 formation is about as fashionable as bell-bottom pants, but Baxter has made a case for it on the grounds that his defenders possess the football intelligence and versatility to make it work. Fullbacks Siboniso Gaxa and Keegan Ritchie are thriving on their freedom to attack, with their defensive duties lightened by the canny anticipation of Mathoho and Mashamaite in the wide centreback roles.
The resilience of the system can also be attributed to the rise of Willard Katsande, who has filled the Tenashe Nengomasha-shaped hole in the base of the Amakhosi's midfield. Like the fellow Zimbabwean whose role he has inherited, Katsande has a healthy appetite for destruction, but he's arguably a better passer and all-round footballer than Nengomasha.
Katsande's positional discipline has afforded his midfield partner Reneilwe Letsholonyane a more adventurous brief, and "Yeye" has installed himself as the creative motherboard of the Amakhosi computer. Even Simphiwe Tshabalala, so lambasted by the fans for his moribund form earlier this season, has relocated his old self.
There is cohesion and belief in abundance – always a sign of solid coaching. Whether or not he wins the title at his first attempt, Baxter has silenced the chorus of criticism that greeted his appointment at Naturena.
By contrast, Orlando Pirates seem to be fraying at the edges, with many players appearing unmotivated and coach Roger de Sa strangely subdued and fatalistic.
To be sure, the Ghost are still treated to occasional flashes of swashbuckling fare: the Sea Robbers took the lead with a sparkling early effort against Amazulu in midweek, after Daine Klate's superb through-ball to Oupa Manyisa concocted an unmissable opening for Collins Mbesuma.
But then Usuthu rallied to equalise, and Bucs lacked the necessary aggression and application to rally themselves to collect an extra two points that would have proved critical, given that Chiefs were coughing up two points to Maritzburg.
With a gruelling African Champions League campaign to contend with, it's hard to envisage Pirates finding the oomph to compile the flawless run-in that they need to overtake their old enemies. And although hundreds of tiny turning points remain, Amakhosi seem to have turned a big psychological corner.
The final countdown
Chiefs
Saturday April 6: Golden Arrows (away, Moses Mabhida)
Wednesday April 17: SuperSport United (home, Peter Mokaba)
Saturday April 20: Moroka Swallows, (away, Dobsonville)
Sunday April 28: Platinum Stars (home, Peter Mokaba Stadium)
Wednesday May 1: Ajax Cape Town (away, Cape Town Stadium)
Saturday, May 18: University of Pretoria (away, Loftus Versfeld)
Pirates
Wednesday April 10: Ajax Cape Town (away, Cape Town Stadium)
Wednesday April 17: Free State Stars (away, Charles Mopeli)
Saturday April 20: Black Leopards (home, Orlando Stadium)
Saturday April 27: Bidvest Wits (away, Mbombela Stadium)
Tuesday April 30: Chippa United (home, Orlando Stadium)
Saturday May 18: Maritzburg United (home, Orlando Stadium)