Chiefs coach laments missed chances: We could have scored six
Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane has again highlighted how a failure to convert opportunities cost his team in the MTN8 semi-final.
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Kaizer Chiefs know that they will at least have to score in the second-leg after playing to a 1-1 draw at home in the MTN8 semi-final first-leg against AmaZulu at FNB stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Gabadinho Mhango gave the visitors a first-half lead before substitute Keagan Dolly equalised for Amakhosi following Veluyeke Zulu’s red card for two bookable transgressions.
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The away goal means that a 0-0 scoreline in the second leg would be enough to see Usuthu into the final.
Usuthu broke the deadlock in the 14th minute when Maluleka’s clipped ball into the box evaded both Zitha Kwinika and Dillan Solomons and fell to Mhango, whose neat first touch allowed him to slip the ball past the stranded Itumeleng Khune.
Moments before the break, Ashley du Preez squandered Chiefs’ best chance of the half. Kgaogelo Sekgota , who was a threat all game, found him with a defence-splitting pass and, after his first effort was brilliantly kept out by Mothwa, the striker fired wildly wide with a gaping goal at his mercy. Amakhosi’s Burundian striker, Caleb Bimenyimana, also might have done better when the ball flew wide off his knee after he was found unmarked inside the 6-yard box.
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After AmaZulu had been reduced to 10 men in the second half, Chiefs made their numerical advantage count in the 61st minute. Dillan Solomons went o an excellent run down the right and pulled the ball back across the box, where Dolly, making a late run, struck the ball firmly past Mothwa to level the tie.
Chiefs poured forward in search of a winning goal. Kwinika had a header cleared off the line by Mphahlele and Bimenyimana headed wide from a S’fiso Hlanti cross.
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However, it was an all too familiar tale of Amakhosi’s failure to convert their chances, as the match drew to a close. Apart from a frantic flurry in referee’s added tome at the end, where Mphahlele, again, made a crucial block from Hlanti, AmaZulu were able to hold out for the draw.
“We know we could have done better, we created a number of changes, we could have easily scored four, five goals, even six, it wasn’t to be in terms of scoring goals,” coach Arthur Zwane said.
“Look we made it difficult for ourselves, the fact that we conceded, now we’re chasing the game, we’re going to Durban to make sure we have to win at least and not concede a goal. But we have to score goals there in Durban.”
How Chiefs and AmaZulu lined up on Sunday
Chiefs XI: Khune © (32); Kwinika (4), Dove (2), Hlanti (23), Solomons (18) [Frosler (39) 82], Blom (45), Maart (8), Sithebe (6) [Dolly (10) 45], Sekgota (14), Du Preez (9) [Nk Ngcobo (12) 74], Bimenyimana (28)
Subs: Bvuma (44); Ngezana (30), Nj Ngcobo (27), Alexander (17), Matlou (22), Nange (24), Mahlatsi (5)
Coach: Arthur Zwane
AmaZulu XI: Mothwa (44), Hanamub (14), Gumede (17), Zulu (24), Khumalo (22) [Mukumela (13) 86], Mobara (2), Makhaula © (8), Buchanan (45), Maluleka (12) [Majoro (20) 68], Mhango (11) [Bwalya (50) 68], Zuma (15) [Mphahlele (23) 57]
Subs: Amonome (38), Mabiliso (42), Kunene (36), Malepe (4), Brooks (18)
Coach: Brandon Truter
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