Kaizer Chiefs’ quest for the Nedbank Cup title will continue with a Soweto derby semifinal against Orlando Pirates after they were drawn together last night at Chatsworth Stadium.
Amakhosi, who are looking to end their eighth-year trophy drought, advanced to the semifinal of this competition after they came from a goal down to edge Royal AM 2-1 at the same venue last night.
They will now face Pirates, who beat Dondol Stars in the other semifinal yesterday. The other semifinal will see Stellenbosch United host Sekhukhune United on the weekend of May 6.
Chiefs got their win courtesy of an own goal by Thabo Matlaba and Yusuf Maart spot-kick in extra time, while Samuel Manganyi scored for Royal.
The match was tightly contested earlier on, with Royal side pressing the visitors high and not giving them space and time on the ball. However, Thwihli Thwahla suffered a blow when veteran defender Happy Jele was stretched off in the 21st minute after an injury and was replaced by Manganyi.
With his first contribution five minutes after his introduction, Manganyi headed home the opener from Shaune Mogaila’s corner in the 27th minute to give John Maduka’s side a lead.
After the goal, Royal sat back and waited to catch Chiefs on the counter. They invited pressure and cracked when Thabo Matlaba restored parity with an own goal 10 minutes before the interval.
Buoyed by the equaliser, Chiefs continued to dominate possessions and nearly got the lead when Maart’s shot nearly went in before the break when Royal goalkeeper Xolani Ngcobo steered behind the goal.
Both teams went into the interval with the match in balance. But it was the home side, who came back stronger with more energy as they looked to restore their lead.
But Amakhosi did well in terms of their counter press to force Royal into turnovers.
The second half became so tight that both teams could not create any chances as they refused to give anything away.
Royal found it difficult to cope with Amakhosi’s high pressing and opted to sit back late in the second half and use counterattack football.
But the match could not be decided after regulation time and needed extra time to see a winner. Both teams were cautious in the second and created little going forward.
It was only Chiefs who had the best chance when Sinethembe Sithebe’s shot hit the upright. Other than that, there was nothing both teams created in the second half.
Chiefs, however, scored the winner 10 minutes into extra time from a Maart penalty after Mduduzi Shabalala was brought down by Ngcobo.
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