Kaizer Chiefs needed extra time to see of National First Division side Nathi Lions 3 – 2 in a Nedbank Cup round of 32 game on Sunday afternoon at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umalzi outside of Durban.

Chiefs had taken a 2 – 0 lead in the first half with goals from George Lebese and Stanton Lewis in the 24th and 31st minutes respectively, but a second half fight back saw Lions get themselves level.

Themba Makhoba scored on 48 minutes and Lindani Zungu scored a clinical second on 77 minutes to send the game into extra time, Gerald Sibeko who made his first appearance of the season when he came on as a second half substitute, converted an extra time penalty in the 97th minute after Stanton Lewis had been fouled in the Lions danger zone.

Lewis connected with a pass from the edge of the 18 yard area in the 4th minute it went straight at Lions keeper Philani Zikalala who smothered the ball, that early attack demonstrated Chiefs intent to attack from the beginning.

The home team were able to frustrate Chiefs after that and came up with a chance of their own in the 16th minute, good work by Moses Chavula saw him cut in from the left get round Jimmy Tau and sent the ball to the far post.

Where Ntuthuko Madlala was able to volley the ball into the ground it took a good one handed save from Itumeleng Khune to push the ball over to avert the danger.

Tau came close to giving Chiefs the lead with an effort from the right win on 22 minutes, soon after the referee stopped play for a water break and it seemed to energize the Amakhosi as they took the lead soon after.

A well floated ball by Thomas Sweswe on the left found George Lebese free inside the Lions 18 yard area on the opposite end, the home team defense stopped waiting for an offside call Lebese played on and with his left foot curled the ball sweetly past Zikalala for the opening goal in the 24th minute.

On the half hour mark Lewis was yellow carded but he wiped off that disappointment when he ran onto a neatly threaded past from Tau which the Lions defence failed to properly read, Lewis in a one on one situation with Zikalala slammed the ball past keeper to double Chiefs lead.

Three minutes after the restart Lions cut the arrears when a well executed free kick by Senzo Mkhwanazi was floated from the left over the Chiefs rearguard to the far post where an unmarked Makhoba headed the ball across goal past Khune to make the score 2 -1.

Chiefs lost defender Zhaimu Jambo when he went up in the 50th minute to head the ball clear and he dislocated his shoulder as he fell down and had to be substituted.

Dominic Isaacs missed out on the opportunity to further extend Chiefs lead when he side footed a lay up from the right wide of goal in the 64th minute, The Amakhosi were to pay for not making their opportunities count when Lions grabbed an equalizer in the 76th minute.

A long searching ball was flicked on into the path of Lindani Zungu who rode the challenge of Dominic Isaacs before turning and striking it past Khune to ultimately send the game into extra time.

Seven minutes into extra time Siyabonga Shoyisa clattered into the back of Lewis as they attacked the ball inside the Lions 18 yard are and referee Buyile Gqubule duly pointed to the spot and awarded Chiefs a penalty.

Up stepped veteran Amakhosi midfielder Gerald Sibeko who came on as a second half substitute to take the spot kick, although Zikalala got a hand to the ball the power took it over the line as Chiefs went 3 – 2 up.

Early in the second half of extra time Dominic Mateba thought he scored a fourth for Chiefs but the goal was ruled out for off side, Chiefs did it the hard way but managed to book their passage into the last 16.

Nathi Lions: 1. Zikalala, 3. Chavula, 15. Mkhwanazi, 17. Mncube (26. Sigwebela 78’), 13. Zungu, 20. Maruping, 10. Dlamini, 25. Shoyisa, 8. Makhoba (27. Zaca 68’), 5. Dube, 11. Madlala (7. Makhanya 73’)

Cautions: 3. Chavula 66’, 25. Shoyisa 96’, 15. Mkhwanazi 115’


Red Card: 25. Shoyisa for Dissent after the final whistle


Coach: Styles Phumo

Kaizer Chiefs : 32. Khune, 2. Tau, 3. Sweswe, 29. Jambo (35. Baloyi 59’), 5. Isaacs, 6. Letsholonyane, 8. Nengomasha ( 27. Sibeko 64’), 17. Lebese (12. Mateba 78’), 22. Masango, 18. Leiws, 7. Motaung

Cautions: 18. Lewis 30’

Coach: Vladimir Vermezovic


Assistant Coach: Donald ‘Ace’ Khuse


Goalkeeper Coach: Rainer Dinkelacker