Kaizer Chiefs were too strong for 10-man Wits University, beating the students 3-0 in the Coca-Cola Cup semifinal replay at the FNB stadium on Wednesday night.
Chiefs led 1-0 at half-time.
The match started 20 minutes late to allow late fans to get in. The crowd was estimated at 48 000.
After an entertaining first half, the match deteriorated after the break when Wits had defender Tsietsi Mahoa sent off for a second bookable offence in the 64th minute.
Wits had four players booked, including Mahoa, by overzealous referee Ace Ncobo, who also sent off the Students assistant coach Wellington Manyathi from the bench before the start of the second half for dissent.
Chiefs were on top in the first half thanks to a well-taken goal from Swaziland international striker Sibusiso Dlamini, who used his pace to connect with a through ball from Arthur Zwane and beat goalkeeper Wayne Roberts in the 11th minute.
Wits’ best chance came from a powerful header from Stewart Murisa in the 17th minute, but a brilliant save from ‘keeper Rowen Fernandez denied the Zimbabwean star an equaliser.
Dlamini turned the Wits defence inside out in the 20th minute when he dribbled past four defenders but ran out of space and lost possession on the goalline.
Chiefs continued to dominate and Wits had a narrow escape when Zwane’s powerful 25m rocket cannoned off the crossbar in the 32nd minute.
Chiefs substitute Kabamba Musasa missed two chances in the 61st and 62nd minutes. He failed to connect a well-directed cross from Cyril Nzama with an open goal at his mercy and a minute later powered a drive fractionally wide of the upright.
Fabian McCarthy made it 2-0 with a disputed goal in the 76th minute that earned Roberts a yellow card.
The Musasa made amends when he sealed the win with the third goal five minutes form time when he finished off a great move initiated by John ”Shoes” Moshoeu. — Sapa