Posted in News on Dec 18, 2004.
Chiefs left it late though, the 80th minute to be precise, before they could finally get the SuperSport monkey off their back. Before this match Chiefs had not won against United in five years.
Veteran midfielder John “Shoes” Moshoeu, celebrating his 39th birthday on the day, came off the bench on 68 minutes in place of Gerald Sibeko, who had a superb game, to inspire Amakhosi to Coke Cup glory.
United, who had never set a foot wrong until the last 10 minutes of the game, were penalised for a deadly defensive mistake by Siboniso Gaxa, who played the ball into the path of David Radebe while trying to clear. Radebe did not hesitate as he laid the ball to Mbesuma and the rest is history.
It was also sweet revenge for the defending champions who suffered a 1-0 defeat against United in the SAA Supa 8 final in October. Matsatsantsa, who won through a somewhat controversial penalty, were accused of playing negative football on that occasion.
However, this time around they came out with guns blazing and displayed exciting and entertaining football. Chiefs did not sit back either as they went full steam right from the beginning until the final whistle.
The star of the show for Amakhosi was midfielder Emmanuel “Scara” Ngobese, who restricted the usually attack-minded winger Phil Evans to defensive duties on this occasion. Ngobese never set a foot wrong and almost each pass he made threatened to knock out United.
Sibeko, who was given a run ahead of Moshoeu, was also outstanding and seemed quite comfortable with the speedy United midfield.
A nervous start was followed with two mistakes at the back. First goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez slipped while attempting a goal-kick on two minutes giving possession to the opposition but was relieved as his defence came to the rescue. Then defender Sphiwe Mkhonza fumbled his clearance but recovered quickly to make amends. However, once Amakhosi had settled down they looked a good bet to lift the trophy and pocket the R2 million-prize.
The Chiefs defence, otherwise suspect in almost every game since the start of the league, never flinched and snuffed out any potential threat from Tsweu Mokoro, Manuel Bucuane and Abram Raselemane. Mokoro had given Chiefs a torrid night until he was ejected on 50 minutes in favour of SA junior international Daine Klate and that proved to be the undoing on the United front.
However, Matsatsantsa came close on more than one occasion. The best chance was perhaps on 61 minutes as a result of bad communication between Mabedi, who had played the ball back, and Fernandez. The angle was however, too tight and Raselemane could only fire wide of the goal.
Earlier on 36 minutes a low shot hit defender Cyril Nzama on the hand in the penalty area, to which the United bench protested fervently asking for a penalty but referee Jonas Nhlapo was unmoved as it appeared to be a case of ball to hand rather than the other way round. On 62 minutes Klate had the ball in the net only to be flagged offside and again the United bench cried foul.
United, in a desperate effort to snatch the equaliser, pulled off Evans on 86 minutes for lanky striker Dale Studzinski but the change came a little too late as Amakhosi held firm for their third Coca-Cola Cup title.
Radebe, playing in front of his former home crowd, had a great game and should have scored one or two goals. His best chance was on 90 minutes with only the keeper to beat following a supply from Moshoeu. However, Radebe was a little hesitant allowing the keeper time to come out of his line to narrow the angle. He did manage to get the ball to Mbesuma, whose effort was cleared off the line by Gaxa.
Overall it was a solid performance by Amakhosi who seemed the hungrier of the two sides and with this cup out of their way, their focus will return to the league title race immediately after the short Christmas break. United can take pride in that they dished out some outstanding football only to lose to the better side on the day.
