Kaizer Chiefs managed to successfully negotiate the passage to the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup after beating ABC Motsepe League side The Magic 3-0 in the last-16 stage of the competition at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Sunday afternoon.
It took the Glamour Boys 105 minutes to score against the Cape Town side, who were forced to bring their home fixture to the Port Elizabeth stadium after they could not secure a venue in the Mother City.
The game headed into extra time following a 0-0 deadlock after 90 minutes of play.
Chiefs were awarded a penalty in the first 15 minutes of extra time after substitute Khama Billiat was brought down inside the box.
Amakhosi defender Daniel Cardoso duly converted the spot kick to put the Glamour Boys in the lead.
Cardoso’s strike proved to be a good omen as Philani Zulu and Billiat also added their names to the score sheet during a flush period.
Chiefs could have easily sealed their win as early as in the first half‚ but once again their inability to put the ball in the back of the net was there for all to see against The Magic.
They failed to convert several opportunities. Amakhosi dominated in the first half and pushed to get an early goal but their attempts were fruitless.
Chiefs’ first shot at goal came just four minutes into the game, when Happy Mashiane struck from outside the penalty area‚ but his attempt went wide.
Minutes later, George Maluleka also tried his luck as they continued to press for an early goal‚ but the effort also went wide.
The Magic seemed to be a bit star-struck in the first 30 minutes of the game but later found their feet.
They started to make forays into the Chiefs’ half.
However‚ they did not fire any threatening shots at Chiefs goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma.
The Magic seemed to have gained some confidence in the second half after going into the break still deadlocked at 0-0.
Coach David Kannemeyer’s troops had a couple of shots on target but struggled to get past the Amakhosi goalkeeper.
Billiat beat The Magic’s rearguard in the 74th minute of the game when he found himself one-on-one with the home side’s goalkeeper‚ but the Zimbabwean star sent the ball flying over the cross bar.
In the end, the Cape Town side put a brave performance against the Soweto giants and despite a heavy loss they were certainly not disgraced.
In the other fixture played on Sunday, TS Galaxy booked their place in the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup with a 1-0 win over Jomo Cosmos at the Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa.
Ezenkosi captain Dahou Ange Lebahi guided the ball into the back of his own net to the Rockets’ good fortune, as they duly held on to keep their hopes of silverware alive.
Following a rather uneventful opening half, the game finally sparked into life after the break.
Xolani Mpontshane failed to hit the target with only the goalkeeper to beat in the 69th minute. The midfielder was made to rue the missed chance as Lebahi fired the ball past his own goalkeeper four minutes later.
Cosmos pushed forward in search of an equaliser but could not find a way past a determined Ludwe Mpakumpaku in the Rockets goal.
Galaxy had a chance to wrap up proceedings in added time, but Mfundo Phungwayo failed to find the back of the net, with Mwenya Chibwe in no-man’s land.
It mattered little, though, as the visitors booked their place in the quarterfinals alongside fellow NFD outfit Cape Umoya United.