Nedbank Cup Last 16


ABSA Stadium Durban


30th March 2008


Kick Off 17h00


Playing conditions: Cloudy, temperature at kick off 25.5° C

In a game that cannot be described as a football spectacle, saw Chiefs eliminated from the Nedbank Cup in unfortunate circumstances, and instead of still being at the ABSA Stadium watching his team get bundled out on penalties and going through, the agony of losing to Sundowns for only the second time in a cup match as a coach, Muhsin Ertugral would have preferred to have been celebrating with his players at their hotel.

They had the opportunities to have ensured that it would have been an easy night at the office, but they let many easy goal-scoring opportunities go by.

Mabhudi Khenyeza should have made sure that Chiefs went into the break a goal up, but only he can explain how it was that he was unable to turn home the ball with the net invitingly open to him in the 35th minute. Although he did get Chiefs in front later on, Sundowns were let off the hook as the Amakhosi could not capitalize on their continued dominance.

In the end Sundowns found the strength to launch a comeback and found an equalizer to force the game into extra time and eventually a penalty shoot-out, where they managed to emerge the victors in a night of heartbreak for The Amakhosi.

Khenyeza let off

Mabhudi Khenyeza had the honour of having the 'miss of the season' tag attached to him, when he squandered a gift of an opportunity to give Chiefs the lead just past the half hour mark. The move was set up by Shaun Bartlett who picked up the ball just in front of the half way line and played it to Mabhudi Khenyeza on the edge of the 18 yard area.

Khenyeza turned and played the ball to his right where David Mathebula came running on to the ball and crashed it towards goal, Calvin Marlin dived full length across the face of goal to block the ball with his hands, but knocked the ball into the path of Khenyeza.

With the goal at his mercy and only a few yards out, the Chiefs striker went for power, and hit the ball with the outside of his boot and skied the ball high and wide. As the ball went over, the lights in the stadium seemed to give in and the game was held up for around ten minutes, as the problem was attended to.

Lights out

It took Chiefs a minute after the restart to take the lead, as Mabhudi Khenyeza made amends for his earlier misgivings by getting the ball past Marlin on this occasion. A long Itumeleng Khune clearance went end to end and was met by the head of Shaun Bartlett, who headed the ball towards Khenyeza. He then managed to outrun his marker and hit the ball hard towards goal. Marlin stretched out a leg to get to the ball and almost did, but it managed to sneak in under him, and on cue the some of the lights in the stadium again failed causing a second but shorter halt to the match.

Luck evades Khenyeza

Sundowns were forced to substitute their goalkeeper Calvin Marlin as he injured himself in the 65th minute when trying to stop Mabhudi Khenyeza’s attempt on goal. Jimmy Tau curled the ball from the right edge of the Sundowns 18-yard area to Shaun Bartlett on the opposite end. The Chiefs skipper in turn hit the ball along the ground to Khenyeza who hit the ball on the turn, Marlin was at full stretch but the ball evaded him and the goal. In an attempt to reach the ball he injured himself and was replaced by Brian Baloyi.

Tshabalala close

Brian Baloyi came into the match and was called into immediate action as he had to defend a corner, which came in from the left and found its way to Siphiwe Tshabalala, who had a clear sight of goal some three yards out and side footed the ball goal wards. Baloyi lunged at the ball and made a wonderful save but he knocked the ball up wards and Fabian McCarthy ran in and headed the ball goal wards his effort was inches off the mark.

Parity

Surprise Moriri, who did not do much for the opening hour and ten minutes of the match, came to life in the final quarter and ensured the match headed to extra time when he found Sundowns a 77th minute equalizer.

Esrom Nyandoro sent a long searching ball cross field towards the head of Benson Mhlongo on the left hand edge of the Chiefs 18-yard area. He managed to pick out Aldave, who on the volley, tried to turn the ball past Khune. The Chiefs keeper managed to stick a hand out and pushed the ball from under him back into play.

Unfortunately for him though, Surprise Moriri was standing in front of him and the Sundowns attacking midfielder had the easy task of tapping the ball home.

Woodwork saviour

The woodwork came to Chiefs' rescue ten minutes into the first period of extra time when Lerato Chabangu was able to send the perfect dead ball from the right wing, from around 25 yards out, into the Chiefs danger zone. Surprise Moriri ran unchallenged into the box and headed the ball ferociously towards goal and it flew past Khune and rattled the post to deny him a second goal.

Shoot out shut out

With extra time unable to separate the teams, a penalty shoot out was required to determine the winner. After winning five of the previous five shoot-outs against Sundowns, this was not to be The Amakhosi’s night as they succumbed in the shoot-out to the Brazilians.

Jonathan Quartey and Kaizer Junior converted their kicks before Chiefs' third was saved by Baloyi. Thuso Phala was the unfortunate party as Baloyi guessed correctly, diving to his left to make the save. Although Siphiwe Tshabalala and Onismor Bhasera scored Chiefs' last two kicks, Sundowns converted all five of their penalties and will now proceed to the quarterfinals.

Match Details:

Kaizer Chiefs (4-4-2): 32. Khune, 2. Tau, 3. Bhasera, 6. McCarthy, 35. Quartey

8. Nengomasha, 14. Tshabalala, 24. Mathebula, 27. Sibeko, 5. Khenyeza, 17. Bartlett

Substitutions:

In: 26. Thuso Phala; Out: 17. Shaun Bartlett 77 min


In: 7. Kaizer Motaung Junior; Out: 24. David Mathebula 90 + min


In: 28. Derrick Spencer; Out: 27. Gerald Sibeko 91 min

Substitutes not used: 30. Baron, 33. Mototo, 18. Zwane, 29. Tsotetsi

Cautions: Yellow Cards, 5. Mabhudi Khenyeza (taking off jersey after scoring) 46 min

Coach: Muhsin Ertugral


Assistant Coach: Fani Madida


Goalkeeper Coach: Rainer Dinkelacker

Sundowns (4-4-2): 1. Marlin, 19. Mhlongo, 8. Chabangu, 24. Lekgothoane, 3. Nyandoro, 7. Dhaldhla, 6. Acuna, 20. Johannes, 5. Mabizela, 14. Moriri, 23. Ndlovu

Substitutions:

In: 18. Bryan Aldave; Out: 23. Peter Ndlovu 53 min


In: 21. Brent Carelse; Out: 6. Jorge Acuna 58 min


In: 91. Brian Baloyi; Out: 1. Calvin Marlin 69 min

Substitutes not used: 30. Mere, 10. Sapula, 25. Manzini, 66. Kannemeyer

Cautions: Yellow Cards, 20. Robyn Johannes (late tackle on Onismor Bhasera) 23 min, 14. Surprise Moriri (pulling back Thuso Phala) 93 min, 8. Lerato Chabangu (kicking Jimmy Tau in the face) 105+ min

Red Cards: 21. Brent Carelse (off the ball kick on Jimmy Tau) 105 min

Coach: Trott Moloto


Goalkeeper Coach: Alex Hereida

Match Officials:


Referee: Jonas Nhalpo


Assistant 1: Enock Molefe


Assistant 2: Toko Molebo


4th Official: Yugesh Anith


Match Commissioner: Ian McLeod