Kaizer Chiefs defeated Orlando Pirates 3-0 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Monday to reach the final of the Telkom Knockout.
Pirates’ penalty taking was shocking, missing two and having one saved. Chiefs needed only three penalties to secure their place in the final.
Happy Jele had two chances. One was saved by Amakhosi goalkeeper Arthur Bartman, but he missed the next attempt while Terror Fanteni had his shot saved by Bartman and then Ndumiso
Mabena was wide with his spot kick.
The teams have played five hours without registering a goal this season. But Monday’s 0-0 stalemate after extra time was better than both goalless league draws with end-to-end action to
entertain the capacity crowd.
Chiefs will play now Ajax Cape Town in Saturday’s final. The PSL are expected to announce the venue on Tuesday.
One sided
Pirates were outplayed in a one-sided first 45 minutes. Chiefs had Bucs in all kinds of trouble and had it not been for some great goalkeeping from Senzo Meyiwa and some desperate defending, Amakhosi would have taken the lead.
Chiefs appeared hungrier and more committed and quicker to the ball.
Tinashe Nengomasha was outstanding for Chiefs in this period and stamped his authority on the midfield.
Chiefs continued from where they left off in the quarterfinal where they defeated Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 and it was only in the last few minutes of the half that Chiefs’ keeper Bartman was called into action.
The capacity holiday crowd of 50 000 were entertained by some exciting attacking soccer by Chiefs. Meyiwa was called on to make two successive saves in the 12th minute when he did well to block a good effort from Knowledge Musona and from the rebound was able to push away Mthokozisi Yende’s follow-up shot.
Three minutes later Musona broke through but his shot was off target. Meyiwa did well again a minute later when he denied Mandla Masango a goal.
Chiefs kept piling forward and in the 19th minute the overworked Bucs defence managed to block successive shots from Abia Nale and Masango.
Then it was Bucs defender Zvenyika Makonese’s
turn to stop Musona scoring when he managed to clear the dangerous Zimbabwean striker’s shot.
Weathering the storm
But Pirates refused to wilt and weathered the storm by coming back late in the half. Bennett Chenene wasted a chance in the 38th minute when he shot wide after Bartman closed down the Bucs winger.
Meyiwa again came to Bucs’ rescue when he prevented defender Rooi Mahamutsa from scoring a spectacular own goal in trying to clear a Masango cross in the 42nd minute.
But a minute later Bartman made his first save of the game when he tipped Dikgang Mabalane’s shot over the crossbar.
Bucs coach Ruud Krol must have roasted his players at the break because they appeared a lot sharper in the second half. Striker Mabena, who hardly touched the ball in the first half, almost broke the deadlock in the 47th minute when, under pressure, he was able to round Chiefs defender Thabang Rooi, and beat off a challenge from Dominic Isaacs but his final shot screamed centimetres past the woodwork.
Pirates took control in the second half. Bartman pulled off a great save from Mabalane on 57 minutes. Mabena missed a glorious chance in the 68th minute when he latched on to a Chenene cross but blasted his shot over the crossbar.
Bartman did well to save a shot from Bucs substitute Fanteni in the 77th minute.
Fanteni had just replaced out of sorts Katlego Mashego. Then, with Bucs pushing forward, Happy Jele headed a Mabalane free kick over the crossbar when he had the goal at his mercy.
Chiefs substitute David Mathebula inched a shot wide on 85 minutes as the match headed for extra time.
Fanteni crashed a powerful shot off the crossbar in the 92nd minute as Bucs continued to pressurise Amakhosi in extra time. But six minutes later Fanteni wasted a chance to score when he ballooned Mabalane’s inch perfect crops over the upright when he had time to pick his spot.
At the other end Musona completely missed a cross from Yende with an open goal at his mercy.
But with neither side managing a goal, the game went to the inevitable penalty shoot-out.
The match ended on a sour note for Bucs and Mahamutsa who was sent off late in extra time by referee Daniel Bennett. – Sapa