Royal AM (1) [1] 1
(Manganyi 28’)

Kaizer Chiefs (1) [1] 2
(Matlaba o.g. 36’, Maart pen. 102’)

After extra time

Nedbank Cup quarterfinal
Chatsworth stadium

Kaizer Chiefs will face Orlando Pirates in the 2023 Nedbank Cup semi-final after battling their way past Royal AM in the tournament's quarter final last night.

An own goal and a penalty were enough to get Kaizer Chiefs through to the semi-finals of the cup on Sunday evening as they came from behind to beat Royal AM ,2-1 after extra time at a packed Chatsworth stadium, south of Durban.

Samuel Manganyi headed Royal AM in front before Thabo Matlaba’s outrageous own goal levelled the scores before half-time. Yusuf Maart scored the winner from the penalty spot in extra-time.

The victory keeps alive the hopes of the Amakhosi faithful that their long wait to see their beloved heroes lift a trophy could be about to end.

The early exchanges offered little goalmouth action as the teams duelled tenaciously for supremacy in midfield. Amakhosi were making inroads down their right, with Reeve Frosler, returning from a broken jaw to stand in for Dillon Solomons at right back, combining well with Ashley Du Preez on the flank.

It was the hosts, though, who took a surprise lead after 28 minutes when Royal AM defender, Manganyi, on as a substitute for injured Happy Jele five minutes prior, glanced Shaune Mogaela’s near post corner past Brandon Petersen before the keeper could react.

Amakhosi hit back six minutes later, albeit in bizarre fashion. Edmilson Dove played a raking long pass from just his side of hallway deep into Royal AM territory, the flight of which was initially misjudged by Matlaba.. In attempting to recover he only managed to head the ball powerfully, spectacularly and comically past his own goalkeeper, Xolani Ngcobo from the edge of his own penalty area.

Maart, playing in an advanced midfield role almost gave Chiefs the lead on the stroke of half-time when his skidding shot was fumbled by Ngcobo only for the ball to trickle agonisingly wide of the upright. The teams went onto the break level at a goa apiece.

The majority of the second period was relatively scrappy, with neither team able to penetrate their counterparts’ well-marshalled defences, although the better opportunities fell to the more proactive Amakhosi.

Fifteen minutes from time, Siyethemba Sithebe, was unlucky to see his swerving 30 yard drive clatter the junction between post and upright and a minute later Christian Saile had a shot saved by Ngcobo.

With 90 seconds remaining,Du Preez had the ball in the net but was denied what would surely have been the winner by the offside flag. 

The teams began extra-time still level at 1-1, and it would stay like that until the tie was ultimately decided in the 102nd minute, when Maart converted from 12 yards – hammering it in off the underside of the crossbar - after substitute Mduduzi Shabalala was fouled by Ngcobo.

Amakhosi join Sekhukhune United, Stellenbosch FC and Orlando Pirates in the semifinal stage and are one step away from a place in the final.

Watch Match Highlights

Details of the semi-final will be announced shortly.

Line-ups:

Chiefs XI: Petersen (1); Hlanti (23), Dove (2), Ngezana (30), Frosler (39), Zwane (37), Sithebe (6), Maart (8), Dolly© (10), Du Preez (9), Basomboli (21) (Shabalala (42 82’)

Subs: Khune (32); Nj Ngcobo (27), Kwinika (4), Mashiane (19), Mahlatsi (5), Matlou (22), Duba (36), Bimenyimana (28)

Coach: Arthur Zwane

RAM: Ngcobo (32), Jele (4) (Manganyi (13) 23’), Msomi (2), Sikakane (29), Matlaba (14), Lingwati (24), Mahlasela (12), Macuphu (9), Potsane (11) (Mashiane (38) 77’), Pelembe (7)(Thikazi (34) 77’), Mogaila (17)

Subs: Mpoto (25); Magaqa (26), Sera (33), Dube (44), George (45), Ncobeni (42)

Coach: John Maduka

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