Durban – Kaizer Chiefs’ hopes of Telkom Knockout glory came to an end after they went down 6-5 on penalties to Free State Stars after 120 minutes play ended in a 2-2 draw at a rainy Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday .
With the defeat goes another chance for Steve Komphela to win his first silverware as Amakhosi coach, having lost in the Telkom Knockout final to Sundowns in 2015.
The Soweto club had twice come from a goal down – in regulation and added time, but could not finish off the job in a tense shoot-out.
Stars took the lead early on, Bokang Thlone doing well to get away from his marker before curling the ball beyond Itumeleng Khune’s reach after nine minutes.
A few moments later, Ramahlwe Mphahlele came close to finding the equaliser but his header from a corner kick went inches wide.
The home team continued to apply pressure and were nearly rewarded when Siphiwe Tshabalala appeared to have been fouled inside the box after a great through pass from Bernard Parker, but the referee waved play on despite loud calls for a penalty from the Amakhosi faithful.
Free State Stars sat back and looked to catch Chiefs on the counter. They were nearly rewarded when Danny Venter made a dangerous run into the box before he was stopped by a strong tackle from Erick Mathoho.
Chiefs saw more of the ball in the first 30 minutes of the match, but failed to trouble Thela Ngobeni in goals.
A mistake by Paulus Masehe at the back gifted Michelle Katsvairo with a great chance but again the goalkeeper was up to the task and produced a wonderful save.
Kaizer Chiefs started the second half the stronger of the two teams with both Tshabalala and Katsvairo testing Ngobeni with powerful headers.
Tshabalala was again involved in the 63rd minute after he dribbled his way into the box, but his final shot couldn’t go past Man-of-the-Match Ngobeni in goals.
Amakhosi were finally rewarded in the dying minutes of regulation time when substitute Edmore Chirambadare scored a cracker from the edge of the box on 83 minutes.
Ea Lla Koto were again the first team to find the back of the net in extra time after Thokozani Sekotlong turned inside the box in the 98th minute before he calmly placed the ball, giving Khune no chance.
The Glamour Boys threw more players forward and their plan worked 10 minutes later when Mathoho rose high to head in the equaliser from a well taken free kick.
Fewer chances were created after and the game went to penalties.
Lorenzo Gordinho was the first to have his penalty saved while Sfiso Nene’s penalty was too high. William Twala’s miss handed Stars what was probably a deserved win.
The draw was conducted after the game and sees Free State Stars travelling down to the Mother City to take on Cape Town City, while SuperSport United will host Orlando Pirates in the other game.
– ANA