Johannesburg -
Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter will watch their next two games from the stands after he was shown a red card in his side's victory over First Division outfit United FC on Saturday night.
Chiefs coasted into the Nedbank Cup final with a 2-1 win at FNB Stadium.
“Stuart Baxter was given a red card in the 89th minute for abusive comments towards an assistant referee,” said Premier Soccer League (PSL) spokesman Luxolo September.
Derek Blackensee, the PSL general manager, said Baxter would not be allowed on the pitch for their next two games, and while he would be able to communicate with staff on the field, he would not be able to do so electronically.
AmaKhosi, meanwhile, took the lead in the fifth minute through Lehlohonolo Majoro, and doubled their advantage midway through the first half with a George Lebese strike. Both goals came through lapses in United's defence.
The Soweto side, however, took their foot of the pedal in the second period and allowed United back into the game.
The visitors pulled a goal back with nine minutes left when Walter Maponyane made no mistake from the penalty spot.
Chiefs will face either Platinum Stars or SuperSport United, who play on Wednesday, in the final of the knockout competition, as they remain in contention for the leage and cup double.
United had the first go at goal in the third minute, though it was a speculative effort. Strydom Wambi showed good pace on the ball before shooting from range, but his strike was wide.
A minute later, the visitors again stretched the Chiefs defence, but were impatient and Tshwarelo Bereng shot from too far out to trouble Itumeleng Khune in the Chiefs goal.
The hosts showed the difference in class between the sides when they ripped through the United defence in the fifth minute to score the simplest of goals. A perfect pass released Bernard Parker and he tore away from the United defence, with his pinpoint cross finding Majoro, who tapped in from close range.
United had a chance to level the scores in the 18th minute with a free kick from Siyabulela Shai in a dangerous position 25 metres out. Shai's accurate strike was heading for the top left corner, but he could not get the power behind the shot to trouble Khune.
Another easy goal followed for the home side in the 24th minute. Lebese headed home after Majoro hit the crossbar with a long-range effort.
The best chance of the opening stanza for the visitors came just after the half-hour mark. Following a goalmouth scuffle the shot fell to Mpho Mvelase but his attempt was cleared off the line by William Katsande.
Chiefs wasted an easy opportunity in first-half injury time when Parker was perfectly set up, unmarked in the area, but his shot was vaulted into the crowd.
Nine minutes after the restart, it was again Parker who provided a good cross for Majoro in space, but on this occasion the attempt was wayward.
Majoro weaved his way between United defenders in the 74th minute, and his powerful effort needed a good save from Bongani Mpandle in the visitors' goal.
United were awarded a penalty in the 81st minute for an infringement by Tefu Mashamaite in the area.
It was duly converted by Maponyane to give the visitors hope going into the dying stages of regulation time, but Chiefs held on to win as United, the only First Division side left in the competition, were eliminated. - Sapa