Chiefs win Mpumulanga Cup
Chiefs win Mpumulanga Cup

Posted in News on Jun 29, 2008.

Chiefs claimed the Mpumulanga Premier's International Football Cup with an emphatic 3-0 win over Deportivo Maputo in the final at Witbank's Atlantic Stadium on Sunday.



The first half was a one sided event with Kaizer Chiefs controlling the middle of the park and probing down the flanks. Challenges in the middle of the park were thick and fast, and players did not have much time on the ball resulting in the passes being slick and smooth.



David Mathebula and Thuso Phala were the catalysts for the Amakhosi side attacking down the flanks, switching sides occasionally to confuse the defence, providing numerous crosses across the face of the six yard box causing problems for Deportivo.



Chiefs finished the first half in the best way possible when Tshepo Bulu scored with an acrobatic volley in the 40th minute after receiving a great cross from Phala on the left. Had it not been for Chiefs' lack of killer instinct in front of goal they could have gone into the dressing room three or four goals up.



The second half began with Chiefs taking their foot of the gas and had it not been for a goal line clearance from Thabang Rooi and two fantastic saves from Emille Baron they could have found themselves level with Deportivo.



The Amakhosi soon pulled in the reins and put the game beyond doubt in the 75th minute when Mandla Masango volleyed home a cross from Mathebula. Six minutes later Mabhuti Khenyeza scored the third goal with a header after Siphelele Mthembu beat his man down the right to put in a superb cross to the far post.



Chiefs was the best team of the day and deserved to win the Cup. This will certainly build their confidence in the run-up to the start of season.



Kaizer Chiefs side:



Baron; Zwane, Tau, Mathe, Rooi; Phala (Masango 56'), Zuke (Schalkwyk 56'), Mathebula, Letsholonyane (Khenyeza 46'), Nkambule (Lebese 78'); Bulu (Mthembu 64')

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