Yusuf Maart’s extra-time penalty has guided Kaizer Chiefs into the semi final of the Nedbank Cup semi final after overcoming Royal AM 2-1 in extra time at Chatsworth Stadium on Sunday.
As Chiefs were pushed to extra-time, substitute Mdu Shabalala was hacked down by Xolani Ngcobo and Jelly Chavani pointed to the spot kick for the penalty.
Then Maart calmly stepped up and slotted home the spot-kick, but it bounced off the crossbar and nestled over the line in the 102 minute.
Chiefs had to come from behind after Samuel Manganyi’s near post header saw the home side take the lead, but Thabo Matlaba headed the equalizer in his own net in the 30th minute to even the numbers. With this win for Chiefs, it means they have ended their two-match winless streak against Royal AM in Chatsworth.
Happy Jele, in just second start for the club, playing against the opposition he played 29 times with Orlando Pirates, suffered a blow, taken off after 22 minutes. He overstretched himself in the process when he was trying to clear the danger. He was taken off due to what looked like a muscle pull and replaced by Samuel Manganyi.
Though it was an unfortunate incident, that sub immediately paid off for Royal AM as Manganyi ran unmarked at the near post to flick the header to open the scoring from the corner kick after 22 minutes.
But Sifiso Hlanti’s long ball punt was headed in by Thabo Matlaba in his own net in the 36 minute, leaving the big crowd at the venue bouncing as the majority of fans were Chiefs.
While the game continued to be end to end stuff in the capacity crowd, Siyethemba Sithebe cracked the post in the 76 minutes and Chiefs at that time were on top of Royal AM.
However, the game went to extra-time as there was no winner in the regulation time. However, the ill-timed run by Ngcobo saw him clip Shabalala inside the box. Maart converted the spot kick to win the game.
Chiefs are bidding to win this cup competition for the first time since 2012/13.
