A dreadful mistake from Santos goalkeeper Tshepo Motsoeneng allowed livewire Kaizer Chiefs striker Knowledge Musona to score a dramatic last gasp extra-time goal to defeat Santos 1-0 in a scrappy Telkom Knockout semifinal clash at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday night.
With the match heading for a penalty shoot-out lottery, Motsoeneng failed to hold Siphiwe Tshabalala’s cross and Musona fired into an empty net in the 116th minute to net the only goal of a disappointing cup tie and take the defending champions into the final.
Chiefs were in control in the one sided match as Santos sat back for most of the game, lacking any real urgency.
The visiting side’s negative tactics not only frustrated their opponents, but also the partisan Amakhosi fans in the near capacity 40 000-seat stadium.
Santos defended as though their lives depended on it and hoped to catch Chiefs on the counter attack, but the People’s Team produced only two tame shots at goal in a one-sided opening 45 minutes.
Chiefs, however, failed to capitalise on the possession and at one stage started shooting from long range in frustration.
Amakhosi midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane fired one such long-range effort in the fifth minute that was well stopped by the busy Motsoeneng.
Santos defender Wayne Arendse nearly turned the ball into his own net in the ninth minute. Under pressure from a clever cross from Punch Masenamela, he was lucky when his clearance inched past the post.
That shot, however, was the closest Chiefs came to breaking down Santos, despite being in total control.
Two minutes later, out of sorts Chiefs striker Sthembiso Ngcobo was booked when he tried to steer the ball into the net. Ngcobo, who had a poor game, was eventually replaced in the 76th minute by Mthokozisi Yende.
Letsholonyane headed a Tshabalala corner wide of the woodwork on 18 minutes.
Santos’ first shot came from Sekou Camara in the 25th minute which was easily dealt with by under worked Chiefs keeper Itumeleng Khune.
Then came a moment of confusion between Khune and defender Valery Nahayo in the 38th minute. Camara, who managed to steal the ball, failed to capitalise and lost the only real chance the Cape side had in a dull first half.
Chiefs were wasteful after the break. Ngcobo collected a clever through ball from Knowledge Musona but the big striker shot wide of the post in the 54th minute.
Chiefs had a big scare a minute later when Khune was at full stretch to fist a failed clearance by defender Thomas Sweswe over his crossbar.
Santos improved a little in the second half due to the fact that Chiefs allowed them to play and took their foot off the pedal.
Motsoeneng bravely dived at Abia Nale’s feet to prevent the Chiefs substitute from getting in a shot on goal in the 83rd minute.
Musona, the leading Amakhosi goal scorer, missed a sitter in the 87th minute after he failed to bury a tremendous cross from Tshabalala.
With neither side showing an appetite for goals, though, it came as no surprise when the match went into extra time.
The first half of extra time continued where the 90 minutes of regulation time left off with Chiefs attacking and wasting their passes and Santos defending.
Nale then tried to back heel Musona’s cross inside the Santos six yard area and missed the ball in the 101st minute.
Tshabalala wasted a great chance in the 111th minute when, with the goal at his mercy, he mishit the ball.
Santos sat back in the second period of extra time, clearly hoping for penalties, but paid the price when Motsoeneng dropped Tshabalala’s cross and Musona stabbed home the winner.
Chiefs will play the winner of Sunday’s other semifinal, between Maritzburg United and Orlando Pirates in Chatsworth, in the final on December 4. – Sapa