Gert Schalwyk scored twice and set up two goals as Kaizer Chiefs demolished Santos 4-0 in a MTN 8 Cup match at a vibrant Loftus Stadium on Saturday night.
Schalkwyk netted in the fourth minute, then set up strike partner Jose Torrealba in the 21st and then got his brace five minutes later. A cheeky back-heel by the Klerksdorp-born Schalkwyk set midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane on his way for his first goal in the black-and-gold and the contest was over in the 58th minute.
Chiefs did not waste any time getting on the score sheet. Schalkwyk latched on to a defence-splitting pass from defender Jonathan Quartey and gave goalie Lee Langeveldt no chance with a fierce first-time shot that rocketed off the upright into the back of the net.
Spurred on by their supporters, the Amakhosi gave Santos little room to move while they moved forward effortlessly. An equaliser seemed likely in the 15th minute but Marvin Oakes blasted the freekick from the edge of the big box high over Emila Baron’s goal.
Schalkwyk then turned provider after Langeveldt failed to clear a routine cross. He beat his marker and had the composure to find Torrealba and the unmarked Venezuelan had the easiest of tasks to blast home from eight metres out.
Arthur Zwane was lively on the right wing, dashing up and down the touchline, but the crosses he sent in were not converted. On the left, Siphiwe Tshabalala terrorised the Santos rearguard and, together with left-back Onismor Bhasera, pinned the visitors back.
A Bhasera-run led to Chiefs third goal. The Zimbabwean sped unchallenged on the wing and sent in a low cross that Letsholonyane cheekily skipped at the near post for Schalkwyk to poke home.
Despite the comfortable lead Chiefs pushed on, albeit at their leisure.
Torrealba, Schalkwyk and Letsholonyane all had chances to score but were too casual with their finishing.
Santos pressed hard to get on the scoreboard but Baron was hardly forced to make a save.
The Capetonians then started to play with some urgency but Quartey and Valery Nahayo in central defence were taking no nonsense. Chiefs, and Schalkwyk in particular, opened the Santos defence willingly as he turned provider for Letsholonyane to make the score 4-0.
Schalkwyk also set Mandla Masango up for a goal but the youngster lacked composure and ballooned his chance.
Santos stepped up a gear looking for the consolation goal but it was not to be as Quartey and company were unflappable. And when they did get past Chiefs rearguard they were denied by the woodwork or were
simply off target.
Baron did pull off a reflex save late in the game from a Ryan Chapman shot and it just proved that it was not Santos’ night.
Deemed as surplus last season, Schalkwyk proved his worth and received rousing applause when Thuso Phala replaced him with 15 minutes to go, and while Santos pressed on and on the victory belonged to Chiefs and their two-goal hero. – Sapa