Premier Soccer League South African Airways Supa8


Match Number 1: FNB Stadium, Johannesburg


12th August 2006


Temperature: 22 ° C, Wind NW 21.0 km/h, Cloud Cover no significant cover

Kaizer Chiefs became the first team to advance to the semifinals of the 2006 SAA Supa 8 tournament, when they defeated Golden Arrows by two goals to nil at a warm FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Chiefs were given the perfect start to the game when Siyabonga Nkosi side footed the ball after being put through on goal by Louis Agyemang inside the first five minutes of the game. Chiefs then made certain of the game in the second half when David Obua converted a penalty after Nkosi had been brought down by Arrows keeper Phiri when through on goal.

Ernst Middendorp smiled broadly after the game as Chiefs recorded their third straight victory in a Cup game against Arrows, as Chiefs now remain unbeaten against the Durban team under Ernst Middendorp.

Early on in this fairly even game David Mathebula who got the nod to start on Saturday afternoon linked up well with Louis Agyemang before Agyemang sent a perfect ball into the Arrows 18 yard Area which, Nkosi met with perfection to give Chiefs the advantage.

Golden Arrows made their intentions clear soon afterwards and showed that they were not going to be rolled over as Mabuthi Khanyeza warmed Rowen Fernandez gloves with a ferocious shot from distance in the sixth minute. The Amakhosi could have doubled their lead in the 20th minute as Rowen Fernandez sent a long ball to Gert Schalkwyk, who left his marker for dead but wasted the opportunity as he shot across goal.

The first half ended with Chiefs a goal to the good, The Amakhosi could have added to their lead soon after the break as Nkosi shot wide after being teed up by a downward header from Kaizer Junior the man of the match could not control his shot and did not trouble the Arrows keeper with his way ward shot.

Soon after that Nkosi was again in the thick of things as he latched on to a Gert Schalkwyk pass and rounded Arrows keeper Phiri. Phiri than brought the Chiefs midfielder down and earned his second yellow Card of the day which meant he had to depart from the field of play, as he was shown a red card. From the resulting penalty David Obua made certain of the game and even though substitute keeper Maseko guessed correctly Obua was still able to double Chiefs lead.

Kaizer Junior had an opportunity to have got his name on the score sheet but was unlucky not to score as Arrows stand in keeper Maseko saved brilliantly from his diving header, after Gert Schalkwyk had delivered a precision cross into the area.

Golden Arrows substitute striker Alton Meiring brought out the best in Rowen Fernandez late into injury time from a free kick on the edge of the Chiefs 18 yard area, the Chiefs goalkeeper though was in no mood to be beaten.

When Chiefs left the FNB Stadium at the end of their ¼ Final encounter in the 2005 SAA Supa8 Tournament it was to un pleasant scenes, one year on and their were jubilant supporters blowing their vuvuzela’s as they cheered the team off the field.

Ernst Middendorp will be happy with the fact that Chiefs have no game in the coming week as his team will be able to get some rest as they now turn their attention to the resumption of league fixtures when they face Super Sport United on the 27th August in Tshwane.

With victory over Arrows, The Amakhosi have been able to reconfirm their flights into the semi finals, which has well pleased the Chiefs coach.