adminPOLOKWANE.— KNOWLEDGE Musona struck in the 19th minute of extra time as Kaizer Chiefs beat Black Leopards 1-0 to book their place in the next round of the Nedbank Cup at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane yesterday.The National First Division side, though, pushed Chiefs all the way and were unfortunate not to wrap the match up inside 90 minutes in this Last 32 encounter.
Leopards had a great opportunity to take an early lead in the fifth minute when they opened up the Chiefs defence. The ball fell into the path of David Zulu, whose shot from just six yards out went agonisingly wide of goal.
Ten minutes later Leopards attacker Siphelele Ntshangase found space inside the box and blasted his effort high from close range, but Chiefs’ Brilliant Khuzwayo, who started the match in place of regular keeper Itumeleng Khune, had narrowed the angle on goal.
The best chance of the first half fell to Chiefs on the half hour mark from a clever set play. George Maluleka found an unmarked Tefu Mashamaite on the edge of the box and the defender unleashed a stinging left-footed shot which
Leopards keeper Jacob Mokhasi acrobatically palmed away. On the stroke of half-time Leopards were inches away from taking a lead into the break.
In other matches AmaZulu progressed to the Nedbank Cup Round of 16 when they defeated United FC at Olympia Park in Rustenburg.
Usuthu took an early lead courtesy of an own-goal from Mpho Mvelase, while Bongani Ndulula added the second early in the second half.
Mvelase broke the deadlock in the sixth minute as he headed the ball into his own net while attempting to clear a free-kick from Marc Van Heerden.
The home side thought they had grabbed the equaliser in the 17th minute when Abram Mahlaba swept the ball into the back of the net at the far post, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Three minutes later Siyabonga Zulu managed to get his low effort on target from the left side, but Tapuwa Kapini was positioned well to make a comfortable save.
United continued to pile on the pressure in search of the equaliser but Alfred Lekata volleyed over the crossbar in the 23rd minute, while Mahlaba saw his powerful strike flying wide of the upright in the 31st minute.
Van Heerden came close to doubling the visitors’ lead from another set-piece four minutes before the break, but this time his free-kick curled just wide of the target as Usuthu took a slender lead into the break.
United came close to levelling matters eight minutes into the second half when Mahlaba found some space just inside the box, but he failed to pick his spot, directing his shot straight at Kapini.
The hosts were made to pay for that missed opportunity in the 56th minute as Ndulula doubled the lead with a delightful chip over the advancing Gatsha Majola after using his strength to run over a tackle.
The United FC goalkeeper prevented Usuthu from stretching their lead even further in the 69th minute, parrying a solid first-time shot from Njabulo Manqana into safety.
Six minutes later substitute Thabo Gouwe spotted Kapini off his line at the other end but his lobbed effort dipped well over the crossbar.
United were then awarded a penalty in the 85th minute after Bongi Macala was adjudged to have committed a foul inside the penalty area but Mahlaba failed to capitalise as his shot was parried by Kapini.
AmaZulu finished the match strongly and had two good chances to add a third goal, but substitute John Arwuah blasted his shot over the crossbar in the 90th minute, while Ayanda Dlamini was denied by a good low save from Majola in added time.
And Moroka Swallows coach Zeca Marques could not hide his joy and relief as his charges survived a scare from Mbombela United’s gutsy display in the Nedbank Cup at the Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday.
The Birds had to come from behind twice to force the match into extra time and went on to win 4-3. “We needed this challenge, a test of character like this one,” said Swallows coach Marques.
“We played to the limits and there were moments at the end where we should have wrapped it up but again we lost concentration. — KickOff.
Online Reporter