Chiefs lose to Pirates in MTN8
Chiefs lose to Pirates in MTN8

Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Nov 08, 2020.

8 November 2020

 

Kaizer Chiefs                      (0) 0

Orlando Pirates                 (0) 2 (Makaringe 59’, Mntambo 80’)

Pirates win 5-0 on aggregate

 

Kaizer Chiefs were unable to turn around their first leg 3-0 loss to Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 semifinal as they lost the second leg at the FNB Stadium on Sunday afternoon by 2-0. Chiefs managed to do well to hold Pirates in the first half and came close to breaking the deadlock in the second half hitting the woodwork. Pirates took the lead in the 59th minute through Fortune Makaringe and they scored a second through Linda Mntambo for a 5-0 aggregate win.

Chiefs were dominating the possession early on and were looking stronger in the opening minutes of the game. Amakhosi’s rhythm was disturbed by Pirates whose game plan it was to disrupt Chiefs committing needless fouls.

Chiefs suffered a major blow when the influential Reeve Frosler who returned to the team after missing the first leg, had to leave the game around the 25th minute mark. As he chased down a loose ball, he twisted his knee and could not continue. He was replaced by Siphelele Ntshangase in the 29th minute of the game, who made his second appearance of the season.

Pirates created a half chance in the 32nd second minute as Zakhele Lepasa and Mulomowandau Mathoho tussled for the ball inside the Chiefs penalty area on the left edge. The ball fell invitingly for Makaringe who attempted to squeeze the ball past Akpeyi, instead he hacked it across goal and away from danger.

In the 35th minute Njabulo Blom sent a looping ball from the right back towards goal, which had Richard Ofori scrambling off his line to punch the ball clear, but he clattered into Mathoho and the ball fell to Cardoso who attempted to poke the ball home. His effort lacked real power and Thabang Monare who was beyond Ofori managed to clear the ball away. Ofori fell down as the danger was averted and needed medical attention before continuing with the game.

A first half in which Chiefs did a lot right holding 59% of the possession and managed to nullify the Pirates attack by holding a good disciplined defensive line ended 0-0.

In the 59th minute Chiefs came close to breaking the deadlock. A shot from Ntshangase from the edge of the Pirates 18-yard area looped over Ofori and crashed against the cross bar.

Shortly thereafter, just as it happened in the first leg, a Chiefs attack broke down and Amakhosi were punished on the counterattack as Deon Hotto managed to race through onto a long clearance. As he sped away down the left Daniel Cardoso tried to catch up but could not make up ground and Hotto unleashed a shot across goal along the ground, which Akpeyi initially did well to stop getting down at full length to block the ball.  The Chiefs keeper tried to get the ball under control he knocked it away from himself and the ball fell to Makaringe who knocked the ball home, past Akpeyi who looked on agonizingly as Pirates went 1-0 up.

Just past the hour mark, Chiefs misfortune in front of goal continued as Ofori came out to collect a corner from the left. He missed the ball and Anthony Akamu Agay managed to head the ball towards goal. Ofori though with his back towards the Chiefs player, threw up his hand and the ball which looked goalward bound, hit his hand and went away.

The tie was all but over in the 80th minute when another Chiefs attack broke down and Pirates quickly countered them. This time Hotto was involved again as he set Mntambo free with a well-timed through ball, Mntambo in turn ran onto the pass and raced with the ball goalward before powerfully placing it past Akpeyi to double Pirates’ advantage.

Chiefs spurned another opportunity with five minutes to go. Ntshangase rolled the ball across the ground from the right, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo dummied the ball and let it run to fellow second half substitute Lazalous Kambole, who drove the ball at the first time of asking but blazed it high and over the Pirates goal.

Deep into referee’s added time at the end of the second half, Mathoho received his second yellow card for a foul on Lepasa and was red carded. It was his second sending off against Pirates.

In the end Chiefs were unable to turn around their first leg loss and went down 2-0 in this game for their heaviest aggregate loss in a two- legged MTN 8 semifinal in the PSL era.

Teams:

Chiefs: Akpeyi; Frosler (Ntshangase 29’), Mathoho, Cardoso, Sasman; Agay, Blom, Parker (Ngcobo 79’); Manyama (Kambole 63’); Billiat, Castro (Lesako 79’)

Subs not used: Khune, Moleko, Ngezana, Ntiya-Ntiya, Baccus,

Pirates:  Ofori; Hlatswayo ©, Nyauza, Jooste, Maela (Mabaso 83’); Motshwari (Ndlovu 83’), Makaringe (Mntambo 71’), Monare, Pule (Mako 72’), Hotto (Makgaka 83’), Lepasa

Subs not used: Sandilands; Jele,  Monyane, Dzvukamanja

What’s next:

A number of players have been called up for international duty. Coach Arthur Zwane, Lee Baxter and Mark Davy will also be joining Bafana Bafana’s technical team. The next game will take place after the FIFA break on 21 November against Golden Arrows in Durban.

 

 

 

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