Kaizer Chiefs (1) 3
Baloyi 28, Khune 69, Majoro 71
Cape Town All Stars 0
Cape Town All Stars got their night under the bright lights here on Saturday, but that is all, as Kaizer Chiefs resisted another Nedbank Cup upset.
The Amakhosi, who have been knocked out of the three previous editions of this cup by lower league opposition, made hard work of finishing off the Vodacom League outfit from Gugulethu.
In fact, it took a double striking change from Vladimir Vermezovic to finally kill off their stubborn opponents. Kaizer Motaung jr and Bernard Parker were both wasteful in front of goal, and hauled off by the Chiefs coach with around half an hour to go.
And the move paid dividends, as their replacements, Lehlohonolo Majoro and Lucky Khune both struck to leave Chiefs in the clear. To be fair, All Stars, for all their effort, may not have scored if this game had gone on for another 90 minutes. But for as long as Lucky Baloyi’s early goal was all that separated these teams, Chiefs could never rest entirely easy.
The Cape side defended resolutely throughout, their determined attitude epitomised by a couple of early blocks from Howard Davids on George Lebese shots.
Motaung jr was making only his third start for Chiefs all season, and he soon fashioned an opening after a mistake from Mkhululi Kondeleka, but his curling effort went just wide.
Former top flight midfielder Gareth Ncaca showed a bit of class for the All Stars, while striker Luyanda Niyane produced some industrious running, but frankly, Itumeleng Khune could have sat back in the Chiefs goal and made himself a cup of tea for most of this encounter.
And the Amakhosi did go in front on 28 minutes, a lovely strike from Baloyi from the edge of the box, cannoning off the post and into the net.
Chiefs might have had a second three minutes before the break, as Parker sent Motaung jr clean through. But the off-side flag was incorrectly raised, though Motaung’s shot went wide in any case. Parker also dragged his shot wide just before the half-time whistle, with Chiefs continuing to show worrying inconsistency in front of goal.
Vermezovic appeared to grow increasingly frustrated with his team’s effort going forward, and eventually turned to Majoro and Khune. And the pair did not let him down. They combined beautifully for the first goal, Majoro’s cross from the left headed in by Khune from point-blank range.
And then Majoro capitalised on an error from All Stars ’keeper Wesley Fransman, taking his time before slotting the ball in off the post.
Chiefs had a scoreline to save them from any real embarrassment, though far tougher challenges lie ahead in the coming weeks and months for the Amakhosi.
For the All Stars, this was their moment in the limelight, and for a club that has only been around for two years, they competed admirably against the Soweto giants. They walked away without a place in the last 16, but with plenty of pride.
*In other Nedbank Cup round of 32 matches on Saturday, Golden Arrows thrashed NW Shining Stars 5-0 at the Princess Magogo Stadium in Durban, while Jomo Cosmos ran out 2-1 winners over African Warriors in Phuthaditjhaba, Free State and Witbank Spurs beat Mpumalanga Black Aces 3-2 on penalties after the teams were level 1-1 after extra-time at the Rand Stadium in Johannesburg.