Posted in News on May 12, 2001.
Kaizer Chiefs (RSA) ...................(1) 2
Kaizer Chiefs all but confirmed their place in the quarterfinals of the Mandela Cup after a comfortable 2-0 win over Sunshine SC.
The win, coupled with the two away goals scored means the South African giants, will merely have to go through the formalities in the return leg in two weeks time to write their name into the last eight draw of the continental competition.
The game, having been postponed due to a tropical storm 24 hours earlier, was played under sunny skies and amazingly on a dry pitch.
As far as a spectacular, the game will be soon be forgot with Chiefs not committing themselves due the heat and their opponents exhibiting a brand of football, worthy of their part-time status.
Chiefs began cautiously, denying Sunshine space but at the same time not exploiting their possession. However with half time drawing near Luke Petros’ darting run threw the Sunshine defence into disarray.
After taking two players with him, he laid the ball off to an onrushing Thato Mokoena. The midfield playmaker controlled the ball before unleashing a powerful drive from outside the box which flew in off the ‘keeper’s right hand post. It was the former Free State Stars player’s first goal for the club.
In the second half Chiefs were expected to dominate after taking the lead but they allowed Sunshine too much room and for 25 minutes the home team camped in the Chiefs half of the field. But inept finishing and good defensive work by Patrick Madebi, ensured their was no joy for the partisan home crowd of 3 000 spectators.
In the 66th minute Arthur Zwane replaced an ineffective Jabu Pule, the young star having be on the receiving end of some rough tackles by his markers. The winger’s introduction gave Chiefs an edge and he was rewarded for his efforts when he ran onto a through ball from Doctor Khumalo and buried the ball into the top corner.
Says coach Muhsin Ertugral. "I’m not happy the way we played. It was a good result but we made hard work of it. We did not hold onto the ball long enough and gave it way in dangerous positions."
While the coach wasn’t pleased the goalscorers where delighted. "It's my first goal for the club and it’s been a long time coming but I hope it signals better things for me with at Chiefs," says Mokoena.
An elated Zwane said: "I have had a lot of injuries over the last year and I’m just coming back into form and this is a good sign of things to come."
Chiefs: Brain Baloyi, Cyril Nzama, Patrick Madebi, Isaac Mabotsa, Marco Mthembu, Jabu Pule (Arthur Zwane 66min), Thato Mokoena, Patrick Mbuthu, (Doctor Khumalo 70min), Robert Nauseb, Justice Sithole (Siyabonga Nomvete 65min), Luke Petros
Scores: Mokoena 41min, Arthur Zwane 85min.