SuperSport beat Chiefs on penalties in Nedbank Cup
Defending champions Supersport United ended Kaizer Chiefs’ 15-match unbeaten run, as they won a thrilling penalty shoot-out on a 5-3 scoreline, in a Nedbank Cup quarterfinal match played at the FNB Stadium on Saturday evening.
The match was deadlocked at 1-all after 90 minutes of regulation time and 30 minute of extra time, with Chiefs’ George Maluleka being the unfortunate player not to score in the sudden-death penalty shoot-out match-deciding phase.
This allows Supersport coach Stuart Baxter a chance of lifting the lucrative cup title for a third, time following last season’s triumph by Supersport, as well as his victory as Chiefs coach in the 2012/2013 season.
Chiefs, 13-time winners of this competition which has had various sponsors over the years, had a golden opportunity to take the match towards the end of the first period of extra time, after they were awarded a penalty, with Supersport midfielder Dean Furman having been adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area.
However, the visitors’ goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse saved Bernard Parker’s spot kick.
It was Supersport who looked the more likely to score during the 90 minutes of regulation time, albeit on sudden attacks as they held back to keep their playing pattern shape and waited for opportunities to come their way.
In the 72nd minute, New Zealander Jeremy Brockie produced a powerful low driving shot with his left foot from Thabo Mnyamane’s corner kick, which got the better of Chiefs’ Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune to put the visitors into the lead.
However, nine minutes, later, the Amakhosi levelled matters courtesy of a well-headed goal by defender Ramahkwe Mphahlele, from a quality cross from substitute William Twala.
Khune was definitely the busier of the two goalkeepers and was called on to make two superb saves to keep goal-bound efforts from Brockie out. The goalkeeper also saved his team in the first half, when he produced a close range save to blunt the effort of Mnyamane.
Chiefs’ focus will now return to league action, as they prepare for their all-important clash with Cape Town City on Tuesday night in Cape Town. The Soweto giants are currently in third place on the log with 45 points from 24 games, just a point shy of City, the log-leaders. Bidvest Wits are in second place on 45 points but having played two matches less.
Supersport, in fifth spot, with 37 points from 23 games, will have an equally tough encounter on Tuesday, away to Wits.