Johannesburg – Just two minutes into this Telkom Knockout last 16 tie, the home side should have probably wrapped it up.
But striker Michelle Katsvairo, one-on-one with the goalkeeper, failed to put Kaizer Chiefs in front and allowed visitors Maritzburg United to settle, making them the best team on the night.
This encounter had the hallmarks of a potentially mouthwatering clash given its tempo and chances created, mostly by United, who should have been chasing as early on.
It was exhilarating to watch in the beginning, but when opportunities were squandered, one after the other, it became exhausting to say the least. When the game was temporarily called off with just seven minutes remaining – but the scoreboard still not showing any goals from either side – it was suddenly one of those typical cup matches that would have you regret leaving the house. Thando Ndzandzeka, the referee on the night, was forced to halt the game when heavy lighting struck and the floodlights went out. The two teams returned some 25 minutes later to adverse weather conditions in an attempt to see this cup match through.
It wasn’t easy on the eye after that, going all the way to the lottery of penalties.
United had owned the first 45 minutes, recovering emphatically from almost conceding when defender Bevan Fransman gave possession away to an alert Katsvairo before a decent crowd here could even find their seats. They were even denied a penalty shout when Chiefs right-back Kgotso Moleko appeared to handle the ball inside the box following a failed diving tackle to clear from danger.
But Ndzandzeka ignored United’s pleas for a spot kick. Itumeleng Khune would go on to keep Chiefs in the game, the goalkeeper being tested on several occasions by a pacey United attacking line, one which also fluffed their chances when it seemed easier to score. The best chance for United to break the deadlock fell to defender Denis Weidlich on the half-hour mark when his sweetly struck long range effort evaded Khune, only to come off the woodwork. It was clear then that Chiefs were in for a long night. The rain, lighting and floodlights failure only served to extend it further.
The second half was very much similar. Amakhosi lacked creativity and were forced into their half and Khune’s opposite number – Bongani Mpandle – was barely tested. Even in extra-time, United were still in control and it looked like they would rue missed chances with the game headed to a penalty shoot-out. Khune would have immediately given Amakhosi the upper hand, while little known Mpandle might not have been so confident.
Kurt Lentjies and Deolin Mekoa missed their penalty kicks, while Willard Katsande, George Lebese, Lorenzo Gordinho and Keagan Buchanan converted theirs to hand Chiefs victory. United were made to pay for their missed chances in a game they completely dominated pretty much until the last kick of the ball, giving Amakhosi passage into the quarter-finals of the cup.
Result: FNB Stadium
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0
Maritzburg United (0) 0
Chiefs won 4-2 on penalties
@superjourno