Posted in Match Report, News on Feb 12, 2022.
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0
TS Galaxy (0) 1
Kwem 64′
Kaizer Chiefs failed to shake off the cobwebs of their two-month mid-season break from competitive football, as they fell to a disappointing 1-0 loss to TS Galaxy in their Nedbank Cup last 32 clash to make an early exit from the cup competition.
Chiefs struggled for any rhythm and form in bowing out tamely at home at the first hurdle in South Africa’s premier domestic cup competition.
Amakhosi started the game the sprightlier of the two teams and were quickest out of the starting blocks in this game after their long mid-season hiatus.
In just the game’s second minute a Keagan Dolly corner from the right made it all the way to an unmarked Daniel Cardoso, whose glancing header flashed wide of goal when he really should have hit the target.
Galaxy, however, gradually made their way into the game and started knocking it around more confidently as the game progressed.
In the 14th minute, a Galaxy move down the left initiated by veteran Lindokuhle Mbatha led to the ball falling in the Chiefs box to new Rockets signing Lefa Hlongwane, whose goalbound shot was comfortably saved by Brandon Petersen.
In the 21st minute, Mbatha was this time on the receiving end of some good Galaxy build-up play, his curling right-footed shot from the left edge of the Chiefs box heading for the top corner before being brilliantly palmed away by Petersen diving acrobatically to his left.
The visitors were dominant at this stage and the Chiefs back three of Cardoso, Thabani Dube and Siyabonga Ngezana endured some nervy moments, compounded by Ngezana picking up a first-half booking.
Chances were few and far between thereafter for the rest of the half, as the game morphed into a dogged midfield battle.
Chiefs ended the half strongest with some good interplay between Bernard Parker and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo ending with the ball finding Billiat, whose shot from the right needed to be averted by some brave defending from Ebrahim Seedat.
Seedat again needed to be alert on the stroke of half time to flick a free kick off the head of Dube at the far post.
Galaxy started the second half in the ascendancy and they were nearly ahead in the 50th minute when a corner from Orebotse Mongae on the right was headed powerfully goalwards by an unmarked Augustine Kwem, but Petersen again denied Galaxy diving to his left.
Against the run of play in the 52nd minute Chiefs should have opened the scoring as Billiat broke free down the left flank and set up Ngcobo, who with just goalkeeper Melusi Buthelezi to beat had his shot saved.
If you don’t take your chances, you get punished, and less than a minute after Ngcobo’s failed attempt, the visitors took the lead.
Phathutshedzo Nange’s careless back pass was intercepted by Kwem, with Petersen in no man’s land and powerless against the Nigerian striker’s bullet past him and into the back of the net for the game’s opening goal.
In the 67th minute, Njabulo Blom made a rare foray down the right wing before sliding an inviting ball to Dolly in the six yard area, whose outstretched shot sailed over the bar to spurn a good chance for the equaliser.
Chiefs threw everything at their opponents in the search for the equaliser, bringing on the returning Samir Nurkovic and Leonardo Castro as a double change in the second half, as well as Lebogang Manyama and Reeve Frosler as they looked for a way back in the game.
Chiefs had the ball in the back of the net from Castro in the 82nd minute, but Manyama was narrowly adjudged offside in the build up to the disallowed goal.
For all their efforts, Chiefs ended the game empty handed and disappointingly out of the cup.
They now have to regroup and recover from the disappointment as they travel to the coast to face Cape Town City away on Tuesday evening in the DStv Premiership.
Line-ups:
Chiefs XI: Petersen (1), Cardoso (4), Dube (29), Ngezana (30) (Nurkovic 57), Ntiya-Ntiya (36) (Frosler 70), Nange (24), Blom (45), Nk Ngcobo (12) (Manyama 70), Parker (25), Dolly (10), Billiat (11) (Castro 57)
Subs: Bvuma (44), Mathoho (3), Frosler (39), Sekgota (14), Agay (5), Manyama (21), Radebe (33), Castro (8), Nurković (9)
Coach: Stuart Baxter
Cautions: Ngezana, Nange, Nurkovic
Galaxy XI: Buthelezi (32); Sanoka © (45), Msimango (5), Seedat (3), Munyani (23), Hlongwane (13), Aubass(15), Brooks (10), Mongae (44), Mbatha (35), Kwem (17)
Subs: Kolak (1); Lekay (19), M. Mahlangu (4), Fakude (25), Mbunjana (6), Mere (30), S. Mahlangu (21), Roberts (20), Filipetto (43)
Coach: Sead Ramović
