Kaizer Chiefs knocked Maritzburg United out of the Nedbank Cup after picking up a 2-0 victory in the round of 32 at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Friday night.
Christian Saile and Ashley Du Preez’s extra-time strikes were enough to send Amakhosi to the next stage.
BRIGHT START FROM BOTH SIDES
At the outset, both teams began with confidence looking to seize an opener in the crucial moments but both sets of defences were alert. Moments later, it was Chiefs that played into the hosts’ half, however, weren’t deadly in front of goal.
In the 15th minute, King Ndlovu was called into action to repel Mduduzi Shabalala’s inside-the-box effort as the youngster looked to pounce from Christian Saile’s cut-back.
With 25 minutes gone on the clock, both sides lowered their gears as the contest was more of a physical battle with a distinct lack of opportunities for either team.
As the first half approached the end, Ali Meza unleashed a 25-yard strike looking to break the deadlocks, only to be denied by the then-well-positioned Brandon Peterson.
After that, Amakhosi went straight up with Du Preez seeking to break away but was brought down by Travis Graham in the centre circle. Subsequently, the Team of Choice’s captain was given the marching orders after receiving the second yellow card of the match.
Amakhosi could have gotten in front as Du Preez and Yusuf Maart’s shots were expertly dealt with by King Ndlovu.
The match went to the break with a goalless score-line on the board.
Just like in the first half, the open exchanges of the second stanza were much even as both sides could find space in attack.
In the 63rd minute, the Glamour Boys missed a chance to go up as Maart’s vicious effort missed the target by mere inches.
Peterson was forced into a save following Rowan Human’s thunderous short in the edge of the box. Amakhosi’ shot-stopper was on hand to palm the ball over the bar.
KAIZER CHIEFS DOMINANT IN THE LATTER STAGES
In the latter stages, it was Chiefs who kept on threatening Ndlovu’s posts and played into the hosts’ half with Maritzburg struggling to progress the ball up the field.
With neither side rattling the back of the net, the match went to extra time.
Just at the start of the extra time, Chiefs finally opened the scoring via their new signing Saile. The DR Congo international picked up the pieces from the rebound after Zitha Kwinika’s initial effort hit the cross-bar.
In the 112th minute, Du Preez extended the Chiefs’ lead, tapping in from Happy Mashiane’s cross. The visitors came out as the victors of the day in what was a sold out affair.
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