Demonstrating an unwavering, never-say-die spirit against the odds — and benefiting from one of the worst exhibitions of penalty-taking at this level of soccer in South Africa from their opponents — Kaizer Chiefs eased into the final of the Absa Cup at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace on Saturday afternoon after a gruelling but goalless 120 minutes against Mamelodi Sundowns.
The difference between the teams in the end was a 2-1 advantage to Chiefs in the penalty shoot-out against the Premier Soccer League champions-elect, but the combined, miscued efforts from Peter Ndlovu, Godfrey Sapula, Josta Dladla and Jose Torrealba would have embarrassed and shamed a team of under-10 schoolboys.
Despite equally wayward penalties from David Obua and Patrick Mayo, Chiefs were able to squeeze into their first Absa Cup final despite being on the back foot against the more composed Sundowns for much of the opening 90 minutes.
Amakhosi players gathered in a circle before the start of extra time and appeared to offer a uniform prayer before launching a spirited fight-back in the final 30 minutes of the game and putting Sundowns under a good deal of pressure.
It culminated in Sundowns left-back David Kannemeyer being sent off in the 116th minute after receiving a second yellow card, with Dikgetho Mototo and Louis Agyemang squandering two golden opportunities of snatching a late winning goal for Chiefs.
Sundowns, however, had enough opportunities to seal a comfortable victory, with Lerato Chabangu, substitute Sandile Ndlovu, Clement Mazibuko and Torrealba all missing sitters from close range — and an assortment of shots from a greater distance sprayed aimlessly in all directions.
On the few occasions Sundowns were on target, Chiefs goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez again demonstrated his qualities as a saviour of apparent lost causes, with Andre Arendse in the Brazilians’ goal also emerging with a good deal of credit.
In spite of the unmistakable tension and excitement both on and off the pitch, play often deteriorated to an amateurish level.
And anyone who might have watched Chelsea play Manchester United in an English Premiership game on TV immediately before the Absa Cup showdown would certainly have noticed there were more misplaced passes in the opening 15 minutes at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace than in the full 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge. — Sapa