Veteran winger, Arthur Zwane’s deflected strike at the 112th minute was enough to send the Glamour Boys to the next round of Nedbank Cup in an entertaining encounter played at Super Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The game bar scorching heat in Tshwane, started in a blistering pace with both sides showing no signs of sitting back, but it was Free State Stars who had a brighter start when Prince Olumo rattled a cross bar with a close range header in the 30th minute.

Muhsin Ertugral had restored the Jose Torrealba – Kaizer Motaung Jr partnership upfront with Abia Nale playing wide right instead of veteran winger, Zwane.

The hosts suffered a blow in the 35th minute when defender, Valery Nahayo received marching orders from referee, Peter Mabuza for a second bookable offense.

Goalkeeper, Itumeleng Khune was called to action when he stopped Saitjhein Tsotetsi’s powerful strike on the edge of 18 area box, 0-0.

Stars midfielder, Paulos Masehe was a second player to go for an early shower in the game when he was booked for fouling midfielder, Reneilwe Letsholonyane.

In the start of second half, Ertugral brought the skilful David Mathebula for Motaung Jr and the move immediately paid dividends as Chiefs came close twice with Nale.

First, Nale had his powerful shot punched over the bar by Free State Stars goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene . Minutes later, he was in the thick of things again as he ballooned his shot when it looked easier to score than to miss. This was following a superb run by skipper, Jimmy Tau.

Khune who had another solid game was at his best as he produced a spectacular save denying Rueben Cloete from a 25 yard free kick.

Ibe Zito Ogbonna who had replaced Torrealba with 20 minutes remaining on the clock came close grabbing a lead for the Amakhosi but was seconds late in connecting with Letsholonyane’s sublime pass.

Nale thought he had grabbed a lead for the hosts when mix up between Free State Stars defence and goalkeeper, Mweene ended in the back of the net but the goal was disallowed as the referee alleged the player to have used his hand.

The Glamour Boys who were playing with zeal and urgency in dominated their opponents with midfielder, Letsholonyane had a superb afternoon in the heart of the midfield but they failed to break the last line of defence with Mweene in top form.

The score was 0-0 at full time.

Zwane entered the fold at the start of extra time replacing Nale and the Glamour Boys continued where they left off in the second half putting the visitors under pressure with their short passing game. However, they could not find the elusive winner.

The goal finally came in the 112th minute through a boot of Zwane following a some piece of work from Ogbonna.

Chiefs who dominated the whole game were deservingly winners and they will now wait for Thursday to know who will be their next opponents in the last 16 of the competition.

Teams:

Chiefs: Khune, Tau (Capt.), Bhasera, Nahayo, Rooi, Nengomasha, Letsholonyane, Torrealba (Ogbonna 70), Nale (Zwane 90), Motaung Jr., Tshabalala

Substitutes used: David Mathebula in for Motaung Jr (45 min )

Substitutes not used: Baron, Mooki, Matle, Masenamela

Technical Team

Muhsin Ertugral (Head Coach)


Fani Madida (Assistant Coach)


Rainer Dinkelacker (Goalkeeper Coach)


Elsa Storm (Fitness Trainer)

Stars: Mweene, Matola, Cloete, Mensah, Mashego (Mokola 102)), Lechesa, Masehe, Madimabe (Motaung 55), Mdluli, Tsotetsi (Nkosi 90), Olumo

Substitutes not used: Mashinini, Mofedi, Maleka, Mabaso

Technical Team

Steve Kompela (Head Coach)


Themba Sithole (Head Coach)


Milton Nienov (Assistant Coach)


Timothy Vadachalam (Physio)


Mafa Mhlambi (Assist. Physio)

Match Officials

Peter Mabuza (Referee)


Geronimo Piedt (1st Assistant)


Nomvula Masilela (2nd Assistant)


Johannes Moshidi (4th Official)

Steve Goddard (Match Commissioner)