Chiefs through to Supa 8 semis
23 August 2004
Premier Soccer League giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates played their quarterfinal games of the SAA Supa 8 tournament at the weekend. While Kaizer Chiefs went through to the semifinals, defeating Black Leopards, Pirates came unstuck against Wits University.
Chiefs triumph over Leopards
Castle Premiership league champions Chiefs advanced to the semifinals of the SAA Supa8 when they beat Black Leopards 2-1 at Soccer City on Saturday.
Chiefs' striker Collins Mbesuma scored twice to dispose of Leopards, who gave Amakhosi a run for their money, forcing the game into 30 minutes of extra time.
Mbesuma scored first in the 45th minute to put Chiefs in the lead just before the halftime break.
Leopards came out strongly in the second half, constantly taking the game to the Chiefs defence, and were rewarded for their persistence in the 65th minute when Wonder Nhleko scored the equaliser.
The move was
started by Sibusiso Dlamini, who sent through Mulondo Sikwivhilu, whose shot was parried back into play by Chiefs keeper Rowen Fernandez. The ball then fell for Nhleko, who put it into the net.
Both teams failed to score in the remaining 25 minutes, and the game went into extra time.
Five minutes into the first half of extra time, Mbesuma went on a cheeky solo run from the middle of the park, shaking off three defenders and finishing his effort by blasting the ball into the top corner, leaving Amon Phophi no chance.
The Glamour Boys held onto their slender lead until the final whistle.
Wits teach Bucs a lesson
For the second year running, Orlando Pirates failed to advance beyond the first round of the SAA Supa 8 following their 2-1 defeat by Wits University in Orkney, North West on Sunday.
Pirates started the game as the favourites, controlling proceedings from early on. But Wits University's Thierry Mouyouma silenced the
Pirates supporters in the 16th minute when he found himself unmarked inside the box after a corner, and fired low well out of Francis Chansa's reach to give Wits a 1-0 lead.
Pirates regrouped and were soon on equal footing when Jimmy Kauleza pulled one back three minutes later.
However, poor marking from the Pirates defence allowed Wits captain and Bafana Bafana midfielder Benson Mhlongo a free header inside the box in the 78th minute, giving Wits a hard fought 2-1 victory.
Meanwhile, the PSL announced on Monday that Wits University will play Supersport United while Kaizer Chiefs will tackle Moroka Swallows in the semifinals of the lucrative competition, in which the winners will walk away with a R1.3-million cheque.
The semifinals will be played on the weekend of 18 and 19 September.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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