Mathoho uses his head to win it for Kaizer Chiefs

Chiefs defender Daniel Cardoso clears the ball against Baroka FC on Saturday night. Photo: Deryck Foster/BackpagePix

Chiefs defender Daniel Cardoso clears the ball against Baroka FC on Saturday night. Photo: Deryck Foster/BackpagePix

Published Mar 31, 2018

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Kaizer Chiefs edged out Baroka FC 1-0 in a tightly-contested Nedbank Cup quarter-final clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday night.

Chiefs progressed to the last-four of the competition, joining Free State Stars and Maritzburg United, who qualified for the semi-finals earlier in the day.

The winner between Mamelodi Sundowns and Cape Town City on Sunday afternoon will complete the number of teams for the next stage.

Chiefs got off to a jittery start against bogey side Baroka, and were chasing the game as the Limpopo side were full of running and trickery – until Amakhosi settled and began to contain the early threat.

Striker Ryan Moon struck the woodwork in what was Chiefs’ first real attempt on goal, and the scramble to clear the ball resulted in a corner kick, which they used to grab the lead.

Siphiwe Tshabalala picked out Mulomowandau Mathoho from his delivery, and the defender headed home to break the deadlock and give Amakhosi control.

The Glamour Boys could have increased the lead on the stroke of halftime when they were awarded a penalty following a foul on Leonardo Castro.

Moon stepped up, but sent the spot-kick to the stands, leaving the game on edge before the break.

Baroka pulled their way back into the game, but Chiefs were a lot more solid in defence.

Congratulations to Nedbank Man of the Match: @PuleEkstein #KCOneTeam #NedbankCup pic.twitter.com/2lEQRzRwVm

— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) March 31, 2018

But so too were the Limpopo outfit, as they cut the supply to Moon and Castro and deny the Amakhosi an opportunity to add to their first-half goals.

In the end, Mathoho’s headed goal, which was neatly taken, was enough to keep coach Steve Komphela’s hopes of winning a trophy alive.

The former Bafana Bafana skipper is still looking for silverware since his appointment in June 2015, when he replaced Stuart Baxter, who won two league titles in three years at Naturena.

@superjourno

 

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