Chiefs progress to play-offs
Chiefs progress to play-offs

Posted in News, Team News on Dec 22, 2018.

Kaizer Chiefs progressed to the CAF Confederation Cup play-offs (second round) with a 6-0 win on aggregate over Madagascar’s Elgeco Plus at Stade Municipal de Mahamasina, Antananarivo, on Saturday 22 December 2018.

Early on, Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya tested goalie Basta Eddit, with the shot resulting in a corner.

The match was concentrated in the midfield for most of the first half. It was a physical encounter with Elgeco Plus making some rough tackles, which needed the full attention of referee Osiase William Koto.

It was a different ball game in the second half with coach Ernst Middendorp ringing some changes. First, Hendrick Ekstein came on for the injured Philani Zulu, while Bernard Parker came on for Dumsani Zuma and Ryan Moon for Leonardo Castro.

Ekstein took charge of the proceedings from the middle of the park and sealed his fine performance with a brace, scoring in respectively the 71st and 86th minute. Ryan Moon scored with a brilliant header in the 81th minute.

“It was not an easy game,” admitted coach Middendorp afterwards. “It was basically the same as in the first leg. We had to strategise and manage the game. We are happy with the result.

“I didn’t play Dax Andrianarimanana, even though he comes from Madagascar, because I know, even in Europe, how players react when playing in their home countries. It was a team selection decision and nothing else.”

“It was a great team effort,” added the Amakhosi coach. “We showed the ability to change things around in the second half and I am happy about the achievement of progressing to the next round.

“We just have to soak this up now and then have some rest. We will take this win as a motivation in our preparation for the next game, which is at home against Mamelodi Sundowns on 5 January.”

Chiefs progressed to the playoffs stage, 6-0 on aggregate. The draw for the play=offs will be conducted on 28 December.

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune; Cardoso, Booysen, Hadebe, Walusimbi; Manyama, Katsande, Zulu (Ekstein 46’), Ntiya-Ntiya; Castro (Moon 79’), Zuma (Parker 60’)

 

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