Posted in News on May 13, 2007.
Harry Gwala Stadium, Pietermaritzburg
Premier Soccer League
13th May 2007
Kick Off: 15h15
Temperature: 29 ° C
Kaizer Chiefs kept up their hopes of ending the season inside the top eight as they convincingly beat Maritzburg United at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg by three goals to nil. Chiefs completed the double for the season over Maritzburg following on their 6-1 victory over the Natalians in December, The Amakhosi were once again in a mean mood as they ran home comfortable winners. Serge Djiehoua, who was amongst the goals when Chiefs defeated Maritzburg 6-1 back in December, opened up the scoring for The Amakhosi on 16 minutes. A David Radebe diving header and a goal in the second half by substitute David Mathebula helped seal the win for Chiefs, victory for Chiefs added to already relegated Maritzburg United’s misery.
The almost capacity crowd at the Harry Gwala Stadium waited patiently for both teams to move into fifth gear and in the thirteenth minute they got their monies worth with some end to end action. Arthur Zwane turned a free kick from just past the half way line goal wards which Maritzburg keeper Bogunovic did well to judge, as he came out and punched the ball away launching an attack for his team. A long ball was sent from defense towards David Makgale who used his pace to out gun the Chiefs rear guard, unfortunately for him his finishing left a lot to be desired as he dragged his attempt at goal well wide.
After been let off the hook by Makgale The Amakhosi pushed forward and in the sixteenth minute kept the pressure on the United defense and won two consecutive corners, from the second one taken by Arthur Zwane on the left. A short pass was played to Ditheko Mototo who turned towards goal and shot the ball at Bogunovic who blocked the ball with his chest, Serge Djiehoua pounced on the lose ball and his first shot struck a Maritzburg player. He did much better on the second time of asking as the ball came back to him, he hit it on the up and was able to get enough power on the ball to drag it past Bogunovic an into the back of the net.
On twenty minutes Japie Motale the younger brother of former Bafana Bafana star Edward Motale set up Fadlu Davids with a well taken cross from the right, which David knocked against the Chiefs upright as he was able to out jump Jimmy Tau and get his header on target. A minute on and The Amakhosi could have gone two up as Siyabonga Nkosi played David Radebe in on goal, it looked as though the Chiefs striker was up ended on the edge of the Maritzburg 18 yard area. Instead of pointing to the spot the referee waved play on and Siyabonga Nkosi raced to the ball and volleyed it goal wards, only for Bogunovic to come up with a big save to keep the ball out.
Not content with a one goal lead Chiefs launched another tirade at the Maritzburg goal; again it was the Nkosi - Radebe combination that troubled United in the 27th minute when once again Nkosi was able to set Radebe on goal. With a pass which left the defense flat footed, Radebe on the edge of the area looked up and curled the ball around Bogunovic but found the cross bar and not the back of the net. Just past the half hour mark Radebe did manage to get himself on the score board, the goal came about after Arthur Zwane played the ball towards Siyabonga Nkosi on the edge of the United penalty box.
As he went for the ball Nkosi seemed to fall over the ball rolled to David Obua who sent it out wide to Jimmy Tau lurking on the right flank, Tau in turn crossed the ball back over the Maritzburg defense towards the far post where David Radebe came diving in and headed the ball home to make the score 2-0.
With nothing more than pride to play for Maritzburg opted to go for throw everything into attack early on in the second half; it was former Kaizer Chiefs striker Kabamba Musasa on as a second half substitute who brought the best out of Rowen Fernandez five minutes after the restart. This after Musasa picked up the ball on the left and out sprinted his marker once he had sight of goal, Musasa unleashed a pile driver towards Fernandez who came out and made himself big as he blocked the ball to safety. On sixty six minutes Musasa again made his way into the Chiefs 18 yard area and had lined up a shot at goal that was until David Obua came sliding in and got to the ball before Musasa could have had a crack at goal.
The closest Maritzburg came to scoring in the second half came after Jimmy Tau brought Pule down on the left hand touchline in the seventy second minute, from the resulting free kick Bhasera sent a deep searching ball towards the far post. Neil Winstanley out jumped the Chiefs defense as headed the ball down wards, it bounced over Fernandez and skimmed the cross bar on its way out as Chiefs had a lucky escape. Two minutes later and Tau made up for almost handing Maritzburg a goal when he played a ball across goal from the right, into the Maritzburg 18 yard area which David Mathebula crashed home from close range. Inside injury time at the end of the game Patrick Mayo could easily hade made it 4-0 when he was through on goal, with just the keeper to beat Mayo knocked the ball across the face of goal Bogunovic managed to stretch out a leg and blocked the ball away.
Kosta Papic will have been well pleased with his teams performance as well as their over all work rate and commitment, he will in all likelihood be looking for a similar performance from his charges in a weeks time when they take on Silver Stars in their final game of the season. A win against Stars in a week’s time will provide Chiefs with the necessary points needed to perhaps sneak in and earn a top eight finish, which will see The Amakhosi qualify for the SAA Supa8 competition.
Line Up’s:
Maritzburg United: 1. D. Bogunovic, 22. J. Motale, 21. O. Bhasera, 5. E. Malinga,
27. I. Winstanley, 15. E. Wiltwer, 13. L. Mazana, 26. L. Pule,
11. F. Davids (12. Zimba 71 min), 10. D. Makgale (14. Sosibo 62 min),
18. G. King ( 33. Musasa 46 min)
Substitutes
41. A. Kitenge, 12. C. Zimba, 28. S. Mdluli, 14. T. Sosibo, 2. D. Mokoena,
7. M. McVeigh, 33. K. Musasa
Coach: Professor Mlungubisi Ngubane
Kaizer Chiefs: 1. R. Fernandez, 33. D. Mototo, 2. J. Tau, 44. S. Mkhonza, 21. P. Mayo,
18. A. Zwane (27. Sibeko 46 min), 13. D. Obua (24, Mathebula 68 min),
8. T. Nengomasha, 10. S. Nkosi (12. Mooki 56 min), 9. S. Djiehoua, 31. D. Radebe
Substitutes: 32. I. Khune, 6. F. McCarthy, 20. L. Agyemang, 12. T. Mooki,
27. G. Sibeko, 24. D. Mathebula, 22. R. Kilambe
Coach: Kostadin Papic
Cautions: Kaizer Chiefs 8. Tinashe Nengomasha 42 min, 21. Patrick Mayo 71 min
