Posted in Match Report, News on Apr 22, 2017.
Kaizer Chiefs 1 (3 penalties)
SuperSport United 1 (5 penalties)
What Happened?
Kaizer Chiefs were knocked out of this year’s Nedbank Cup competition after losing on penalties to defending champions SuperSport United, after the teams played to a 1-1 after extra time. United move into the semi-finals where they will get a chance of defending the trophy they won last year. The match took place at the FNB Stadium on Saturday evening.
Coach Steve Komphela made three changes in his starting line up from the team that that beat Chippa United last week in Mbombela. Lebese started the match after a long absence in the starting line-up, Sibusiso Khumalo came on for Tsepo Masilela who had a slight knock in the week, while Bernard Parker made his return after serving a one match suspension.
The first half was a rather quiet affair, with both teams approaching the game cautiously. Chances were few and far between. Amakhosi had superior ball possession but did not make use of this advantage.
Matsatsantsa came close to scoring in the 37th minute but Reneilwe Letsholonyane’s ball went over the bar. The second chance was a cross that came from Thuso Phala to Teboho Mokoena, who failed to connect properly and the ball ending up in Captain Itumeleng Khune’s hands.
Chiefs’ first real chance came towards the end of the half with an overlapping run by Khumalo with a defence splitting pass to Bernard Parker who failed to convert.
There were no changes to the playing personnel at the beginning of the second half. Both team looked like they were ready and more eager to unleash their attacking ammunition. This was evident in the 48th minute when Sibusiso Khumalo supplied a beautiful cross to Siphiwe Tshabalala which Shabba could not finish off. Six minutes later Bernard Parker had a glorious chance but shot wide from the 18 area.
SuperSport came very close in the 67th minute when Thabo Mnyamane’s dangerous ball was stopped by Itumeleng Khune, resulting in corner to SuperSport.
The game was a bit more open as SuperSport were awarded a free kick in the 71st minute from which Khune produced the save of the match when he fisted Brockie’s header over the bar. Brockie was not done pestering the Chiefs defence when volleyed home giving United the lead moments later.
In the 76 minute, Gustavo Páez came on for Khumalo and William Twala replaced Lebese three minutes later.
Chiefs had a chance to come back when Ramahlwe Mphahlele overlapped on the right but miskicked the ball. Mphahlele continued with his impressive runs on the right and was rewarded in the 81st minute when he headed home a beautiful cross from Twala, who’s impact was immediately felt by the opposition.
The score was 1-1 at the end of the 90 minutes.
The match went into extra time and neither team sat back, going all out in attack.
Letsholonyane shot wide in the 4th minute after being pressurised by Erick Mathoho.
Michael Boxall was cautioned by the referee in the 8th minute of extra time and on the other end Gordinho received a yellow card for a foul on Phala.
Chiefs were awarded a penalty after Furman handled Twala’s diagonal shot in the box in the 13th minute which earned him a caution from the referee. Parker stepped up to take the penalty but Reyaad Pieterse managed to stop the shot.
The first half of extra time ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
Mandla Masango came on for Reneilwe Letsholonyane in the 17th minute of extra time.
Coach Steve made his last substitution when Hendrick Ekstein replaced Bernard Parker in the 18th minute of extra time.
With fatigue proving to be a factor, there was no winner in extra time and the game then moved into the dreaded lottery of penalties.
Penalties
First to take the penalty was by Mandla Masango who managed to put one past Khune.
Tshabalala scored Chiefs’ first penalty.
Dean Furman made no mistake when he scored Matsatsantsa’s second penalty kick.
Maluleka’s kick hit the upright and did not go in.
Daniels scored SuperSport’s third.
Gordinho scored to make it 2 for Chiefs.
Teboho Mokoena made it 4 for SuperSport United.
Molangoane converted with ease.
Jeremy Brockie scored SuperSport’s 5th penalty, sending SuperSport United into the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup.
Most Valuable Player (MVP):
Captain Itumeleng Khune’s fighting spirit and remarkable stops during the match earned him the honour of being crowned man of the match. He made crucial saves throughout the 120 minutes.
What it means:
Kaizer Chiefs will have to concentrate on the league title as the Nedbank Cup is the last knockout competition of the season. All is not lost as the league title race is tight and any of the 4 teams can clinch the title.
Kaizer Chiefs 11: Khune; Mphahlele, Gordinho, Mathoho, Khumalo (Páez 76); Maluleka, Katsande, Molangoane, Lebese (Twala 79’); Tshabalala, Parker (Ekstein 108’)
Subs not used: Bvuma, Cardoso, Baloyi, Chirambadare
SuperSport United 11: Pieterse, Boxall, Gould, Daniels, Bhasera, Phala, Furman, Brockie, Letsholonyane (Masango 107’), Mnyamane, Mokoena
Subs not used: Williams, Mashamaite, Farmer, Kekana, Modiba, Lakay
Next Match: Kaizer Chiefs visit Cape Town City FC in an Absa Premiership fixture at the Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday, 25 April (kick-off is at 19:30).