THERE was a sense of deja vu as Kaizer Chiefs needed extra-time goals to knock Magic FC out of the Nedbank Cup at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium yesterday.
Contrary to the comprehensive 3-0 scoreline, this was far from an easy last 16 round win for Amakhosi, who survived another scare against an ABC Motsepe League side.
Like they struggled against Tornado FC in the last 32 round, Ernst Middendorp’s boys were made to sweat by the lowly Magic, a team of part-timers, operating on a fraction of Chiefs’ massive budget.
Defender Daniel Cardoso blasted in his spot-kick after Khama Billiat was brought down by Howard Davids inside the area.
Philani Zulu tapped in Dumsani Zuma’s cross before Billiat added the third to seal the win. But questions will continue to be asked of Middendorp’s side inconsistencies upfront.
Before he could score, Billiat was invisible.
Nobody is doubting the supreme quality of the Zimbabwean dribbling wizard, but was made to look ordinary by defenders Dante Lamb and Davids.
Pouncing on a rebound from Zuma’s strike, Billiat thought he’d scored only for his shot to be stopped on the goal line in extra time. Leonardo Castro couldn’t impose himself on the match, and couldn’t even finish the game. He was pulled off for Zuma late in the second half.
Apart from messing up a golden chance to find the breakthrough midway through the second half, Castro did very little to justify his selection.
NEDBANK CUP QUARTER-FINALISTS
- Kaizer Chiefs
- Cape Town City FC
- Chippa United
- Golden Arrows
- Bloem Celtic
- TSGalaxy FC
- Cape Umoya FC
Black Leopards will host Bidvest Wits at Thohoyandou Stadium tonight at 6pm, to complete the list of quarter-finalists.
