Kaizer Chiefs defeated Orlando Pirates 4-2 penalties following a 2-2 draw in the 2019 Telkom Knockout Cup quarterfinal match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
The victory saw Amakhosi progress to the semifinals, while the Buccaneers bowed out of the tournament.
Amakhosi dominated the opening stages of the match and Wayne Sandilands was a busy man in the Bucs goal-posts.
The experienced goalkeeper made a comfortable save from George Maluleka’s effort, before brilliantly finger-tipping Leonardo Castro’s header over the crossbar.
However, Pirates grew in confidence as the half-hour mark approached and Vincent Pule watched on in disbelief as his effort hit the upright from close range.
The Buccaneers should have been reduced to 10 players when Thembinkosi Lorch stepped on Khama Billiat’s foot, but the winger was only given a yellow card.
Lorch was involved when the deadlock was broken as he set-up Fortune Makaringe, who scored from close range to make it 1-0 to Pirates 10 minutes before halftime.
Pirates then stood firm at the back and they were leading 1-0 at the interval.
However, Rhulani Mokwena’s side suffered a blow four minutes into the second-half when Mthokozisi Dube was sent off after receiving his second yellow card and Pirates were reduced to 10 players.
The Glamour Boys then piled pressure on Buccaneers, who were forced to defend in numbers against Chiefs’ 11 players.
The pressure paid off when Billiat’s effort hit the upright and Castro fired home from the rebound to make 1-1 in the 62nd minute much to the delight of the Chiefs fans.
However, Pirates did not sit back and defend despite being numerically disadvantaged as they pushed forward in search of the winning goal.
Daniel Akpeyi became busy in the Chiefs goal-posts as he pulled off two decent saves to deny Bucs duo of Paseka Mako and Pule.
The Nigeria international was then called into action when Tshegofatso Mabasa unleashed a powerful shot from range which was pushed away by Akpeyi.
The two teams were unable to score in the dying minutes of the match and it ended in a 1-1 draw in regulation time, and extra-time followed.
Chiefs pressed Pirates in the first half of extra-time and they were awarded a penalty when Abel Mabaso was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box.
Daniel Cardoso then stepped up and beat Sandilands from the spot-kick to make it 2-1 to Chiefs, who took the lead for the first time on the day.
However, Pirates responded with a goal through substitute Frank Mhango as the Malawian forward netted with a low shot to make it 2-2 in the 100th minute.
Ultimately, an enthralling extra-time ended in a 2-2 stalemate and a penalty shootout followed in the city of City.
Akpeyi proved to be the hero for Amakhosi as he denied Motshwari and Mabaso from the spot-kick and Chiefs emerged 4-2 winners over Pirates.
Chiefs (0) 2 (Castro 62′, Cardoso 94′)
Pirates (1) 2 (Makaringe 35′, Mhango 100′)
Chiefs: Sandilands, Jele , Nyauza, Maela, Dube, Motshwari, Makaringe, Lorch, Pule (Mabaso 74′), Dlamini (Mako 48′), Mabasa (Mhango 99′).
Pirates: Akpeyi, Sasman (Ntiya-Ntiya 90′), Mathoho, Cardoso, Blom (Parker 56′), Katsande (Zuma 46′), Maluleka, Manyama, Nurkovic, Billiat, Castro.© Backpage TXT
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
