CHIEFS OUTCLASS CAPE TOWN CITY TO BOOK NEDBANK CUP FINAL FOUR BERTH
Kaizer Chiefs were the better team from start to finish in a 2-0 Nedbank Cup quarterfinal win over Cape Town City at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Sunday afternoon.
Goals from Hendrick Ekstein and Dumisani Zuma sealed the Glamour Boys passage into the semifinals. The Amakhosi join TS Galaxy, Golden Arrows and Chippa United in the final four.
Peter Leeuwenburgh was called into early action to deny George Maluleka, a player that enjoy’s playing in the Mpumalanga province. Taariq Fielies coughed up possession in a dangerous area, but his goalkeeper was up to the task to spare his blushes; reacting well to keep out Maluleka’s dipping effort.
Chiefs continued to look the more likely to open the scoring and did just that on the half-hour mark. A mistake from Edmilson Dove let in Bernard Park who found an unmarked Ekstein inside the area and midfielder made no mistake, firing home to repay the continued trust shown in him by Ernst Middendorp.
The hosts were unlucky not to be two goals up before the break as Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya rattled the woodwork before Ekstein flashed a shot narrowly wide of goal in quick succession.
City’s first real shot in anger fell to Riyaad Norodien in first-half stoppage-time. The winger’s powerful free-kick had Chiefs fans worried, but not Bruce Bvuma who watched the ball fly wide of goal.
The Citizens have earned themselves ‘comeback kings’ status this season and Benni McCarthy’s team came out raring after the break.
Surprise Ralani proved a real handful down the left flank and it was he who teed up Zukile Kewuti in the 50th minute for what looked sure to be the leveller, but the midfielder could only succeed in guiding his resulting header attempt onto the post and out of danger.
City were made to rue the missed chance six minutes later as Zuma prodded home from close range. The attacker making the desired impact off the bench, as he guided Teenage Hadebe’s cushion header past Leeuwenburgh to double Chiefs’ lead.
The visitors were consequently forced to pour forward in search of a way back into the game and came close in the 78th minute as Gift Links forced Bvuma into a top save.
Chiefs were largely untroubled in the closing stages as they now turn their attention to the semifinals on their continued quest to end their trophy drought.
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 2 (Ekstein 30′ Zuma 56′)
Cape Town City (0) 0
