The Kaizer Chiefs u-19 team continued with their surge in the SuperSport Youth Cup on Saturday, when they drew their final group game against Bloemfontein Celtic and to finish top of their group, thereby setting up a quarterfinal meeting with Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates.

It was to be sweet revenge for Ace Khuse and his team as they were defeated by Pirates in the semifinals of the same event in 2005. They got one back on their old foes as a ten-man Chiefs team managed to take Pirates to a penalty shoot out. Where young goalkeeper Thela Ngobeni was the hero of the shootout as he saved Pirates fourth spot kick to hand Chiefs a 4-2 win.

Missed opportunities

The Chiefs U-19’s, who came through the group stage of the competition unbeaten, enjoyed the lions share of play against Pirates and should have won the game well before it dragged on into a shoot-out.

The young Chiefs' best opportunity of the game came early in the second half when their star performer thus far, Stephen Faba, put Justice Pilusa through on goal. The Pirates keeper came out and completely missed the ball and Pilusa ran past the keeper, but could only knock the ball into the side netting.

Faba himself was guilty of missing a glorious opportunity to have won the game. As Lawrence Molekwane, who was later given his marching orders, sent in a cross to Faba just a few meters away from the Pirates goal, hit a well timed volley straight at the opposition keeper.

With an hour of play unable to separate the two teams, it was off to the shoot out where Pirates missed their opening effort, and Chiefs keeper Thela Ngobeni saved their fourth to earn Chiefs a semifinal berth and a 4-2 victory in the shoot-out.

Now for the champions

Ngobeni’s heroics has earned The young Amakhosi their second appearance in the semifinals in three years. On Sunday morning they will face the defending champions Ajax Cape Town in the semi’s.

Ace Khuse hailed his teams triumph as a courageous and well-earned victory.

“The boys have played well all tournament through, we worked hard and all of that is now paying dividends. We have to play Ajax on Sunday and with the way we have performed so far, I do feel that we can go all the way and win this one”.

Thela Ngobeni, whose crucial spot-kick save put Chiefs into Sunday’s semifinal, added “When the Pirates guy walked up for their fourth kick, I knew that I had to play my part because all of our guys had scored their kicks, and from his body language I figured he was going to hit to my right and I had a lucky guess I suppose”.