MONDAY, 8.30AM:
MAMELODI Sundowns and Orlando Pirates drew their Rothmans Cup semi-final match 2-2 at FNB Stadium on Saturday. Pirates led 2-1 at interval.
In the 44th minute Daniel Mudau’s goal was ruled offside much to the delight of the Pirates fans.
It was the big Nigerian Raphael Chukwu who opened the score in the 23rd minute to put the Brazilians 1-0 up. Pirates immediately replied with goals from Andries Sebola in the 34th minute and Bruce Ramokhadi in the 45th minute.
In the dying minutes if the game Sello Page Mahlangu equalised for the visitors.
Sundowns coach Ted Dumitru said they were not pleased with the way referee Brian Symons handled the game. “I’m not the only coach who feels this way. A referee in our mid-week game in Cape Town went as far as apologising after the game for a blunder he had made. It’s most unfortunate,” said a fuming Dumitru.
Kaizer Chiefs hammered Manning Rangers 4-1 in the other semi-final match played at Chatsworth Stadium in Durban on Sunday. Chiefs’ defender Sizwe Motaung could have put the “Amakhosi” ahead in the 11th minute but his shot went wide. He made up for that miss with a powerful, well taken 35 metre pile-driver that left Rangers goalkeeper Grant Johnson helpless in the 35th minute. Seven minutes later Mark Williams received a pass from Thabang Lebese and immediately lobbed the ball past an advancing Johnson to put the visitors 2-0 up before interval.
Rangers came back strongly in the second half and were rewarded when Kerryn Jordan’s header hit the back of the net in the 47th minute. Their excitement was shotlived as Neil Tovey converted a penalty to put Chiefs 3-1 up after Williams was brought down by Mark Davies in the penalty box. The best goal of the match and probably the best goal of the week was scored by Nigerian defender Muisi Ajoa when he fired a powerful shot just off centre line – 40 metre – leaving Johnson with no chance. Chiefs are now likely to secure a place in the final of the most lucrative Cup competion in the continent.