On Saturday, Kaizer Chiefs advanced to the Nedbank Cup last 16 with a 2-0 win over ten-man Maritzburg United at the Harry Gwala Stadium.
The visitors made one enforced change to the side that drew with TS Galaxy, as Christian Saile Basomboli got his first start in place of the injured Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana.
Kaizer Chiefs book their spot in the Last 16 of the NedbankCup with a 2-0 win over 10-man Maritzburg in extra time. pic.twitter.com/THczDsaHCi
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) February 10, 2023
Amakhosi pressed Fadlu Davids’ charges high early on and created a couple of chances, but they could not carve out clear openings. The Team of Choice gained confidence after that, as they threatened going forward, but their task was made difficult eight minutes before the interval, going a man down, after Graham got a second booking and was sent off for bringing down Shabalala who was charging through on goal.
Chiefs got more spaces and Ashley Du Preez came close to breaking the deadlock on the stroke of halftime with a cracking shot from out of the box that was parried away by goalkeeper King Ndlovu at full stretch.
Amakhosi continued to struggle against a deep-lying block early in the second stanza and were not finding a way through it, until Arthur Zwane made a change on the hour-mark by bringing on Kgaogelo Sekgota in place of Keagan Dolly.
Sekgota brought a new dimension in Chiefs’ attacks with his wing play but the visitors became vulnerable on transitions and Rowan Human almost broke the deadlock for United in the last 20 minutes with a dipping strike that was heroically kept out by shot-stopper Brandon Peterson.
Maritzburg continued to frustrate Amakhosi, but Sekgota had a good chance nine minutes before time at the back post but guided a free header wide with only Ndlovu to beat and extra-time was needed.
Chiefs had a perfect start in extra-time after Basomboli eventually broke the deadlock and got his first goal at the club two minutes in with a close-range finish after Ndlovu fumbled a headed cross by Zitha Kwinika on the goal-line.
As Maritzburg looked to come back into the game by advancing in numbers in the second period of extra-time, they were punished with seven minutes to go after Du Preez volleyed home Happy Mashiane’s cross at the back post and sealed a spot in the last 16 for Amakhosi.
