Posted in News on Oct 28, 2007.
28th October 2007
Telkom Cup ¼ Finals
Vodacom Loftus, Tshwane
Kick Off: 15h30
Playing Conditions: Partly cloudy 30% chance of rain, temperature at kick off 23.5 ° C
Midfielders into the fray
If his midfielders were out of sorts a week ago against Platinum Stars, Muhsin Ertugral could have no such complaints on Sunday, as the Chiefs engine room was working over time against United.
In a ten minute spell in the first half, the Amakhosi midfield showed its strength as Arthur Zwane was set free down the wing by Kaizer Junior in the ninth minute. He out ran his marker and cut into the SuperSport 18 yard area, where he tried playing the ball across to Shaun Bartlett but Bongani Khumalo came across and blocked the pass.
Zwane should have shot for goal instead of trying to pick out Bartlett, who was heavily marked by the SuperSport defence.
Tinashe Nengomasha made his presence felt when the ball fell invitingly for him, he struck a powerful volley which looked goal bound until Dennis Onyango flew off the ground to make a superb stop.
Super Trouble
While the first half of the game was Chiefs', hands down, SuperSport tried to make in roads in the second and came the closest to finding a goal three minutes into the second half when a Dane Klate free kick from the right was met powerfully with the head by Bongani Khumalo. Fortunately enough for Chiefs, the right hand upright came to their rescue and with Khune stranded to his goal line, the ball looked goal bound and his blushes were saved by the woodwork.
Tshabalala in flight
While he might have missed out on the man of the match award in the previous round of the Telkom Cup, there could be no denying Siphiwe Tshabalala from collecting the prize on Sunday. The dread-locked midfielder, who won a COSAFA Cup Winners medal during the week with the national team, was quick out of the blocks and showed his strength in taking on opponents and in the 21st minute he glided past two SuperSport players and played a quick one-two with Tinashe Nengomasha.
He was eventually teed up by Tinashe and he unleashed a powerful curling shot towards goal, which forced Dennis Onyango to dive at full length to his right and make a save.
Match Winner
The game was always predicted to be a tight affair and a single goal was always going to be enough to seal the win. For all the chances that went a begging for The Amakhosi, one did go their way and it was a well-worked goal as Arthur Zwane managed to pick out Kaizer Junior with a long ball up to the Chiefs striker; he pushed his way past Rudi Isaacs and Ricardo Katza and then pushed the ball forward.
Unsighted to United, Tshabalala stormed into the six-yard area and blasted the ball with his left foot to the near post. Onyango pushed a hand out, but could not reach the ball as it beat him to his right and bulged the net. The man of the match found the only goal of the game in the 58th minute, although he later trudged off and was substituted after being tumbled over by Katlego Mphela in the 69th minute, but he had done the hard graft in setting up a Chiefs win.
In the draw
Victory over SuperSport on Sunday was The Amakhosi’s fourth consecutive Cup success over Matsasantsa, United last defeated Chiefs in a Cup match in October 2004 and Chiefs have continued their dominance over them. Which now means that The Amakhosi became the fourth and final team in the semifinals and will join Free State Stars, Bloemfontein Celtic and Mamelodi Sundowns in Monday morning's draw to decided who they will face in the last four.
Line Ups:
SuperSport United: 31. Dennis Onyango, 2. Ricardo Katza, 3. Bongani Khumalo,
4. Tsietsi Mahoa, 7. Daine Klate, 9. Katlego Mphela, 11. Elias Pelembe, 12. Fikru Tefera, 20. Rudi Isaacs, 23. Carlos Chimomole, 28. Sibusiso Mahlangu
Substitutions:
In: 21: Katlego Mashego | Out: 9. Katlego Mphela 61 min | |
In: 5. Dennis Masina | Out: 7. Daine Klate 67 min | |
In: 14. Calvin Kadi | Out: 23. Carlos Chimomole 84 min |
Substitutes not used: 1. Andre Arendse, 6. Siboniso Gaxa, 15. Senzo Ndlovu,
22. Siphiwe Mkhonza
Cautions: 12. Fikru Tefera (Pulling down David Obua off the ball) 75 min
Coach: Gavin Hunt
Asst Coach: Thomas Madigage
Kaizer Chiefs (4-3-1-2): 32. Itumeleng Khune, 2. Jimmy Tau, 3. Onismor Bhasera,
6. Fabian McCarthy, 8. Tinashe Nengomasha, 27. Gerald Sibeko, 18. Arthur Zwane,
14. Siphiwe Tshabalala, 7. Kaizer Motaung Junior, 17. Shaun Bartlett
Substitutions:
In: 4. Cyril Nzama | Out: 29. Moketi Tsotetsi 46 min | |
In: 13. David Obua | Out: 14. Siphiwe Tshabalala 69 min | |
In: 12. Thabo Mooki | Out: 27. Gerald Sibeko 79 min |
Substitutes not used: 1. Markus Bocsker, 22. Mandla Masango, 33. Ditheko Mototo,
5. Mabhudi Khenyeza
Cautions: 14. Siphiwe Tshabalala (late tackle on Daine Klate) 45 min
Coach: Muhsin Ertugral
Assistant Coach: Fani Madida
Goalkeeper Coach: Rainer Dinkelacker
Match Officials:
Referee: Daniel Bennett
Assistant 1: Enoch Molefe
Assistant 2: Toko Malebo
4TH Official: Paulo Marques
Match Commissioner: Stan Swart