Kaizer Chiefs advanced to the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals after claiming a hard-fought 3-0 victory over Magic at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Sunday, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.
Ernst Middendorp’s men made their way into the last 16 after claiming a narrow 1-0 victory over ABC Motsepe League side Tornado in extra time last month.
Meanwhile, the Cape Town outfit beat national first division side Maccabi FC on penalties in the last 32 after a goalless draw in extra time.
Amakhosi showed their intent early on with George Maluleka nearly opening the scoring when he unleashed a strike from outside the box, but his attempt missed the top corner.
The away side once again came close to breaking the deadlock when Happy Mashiane produced a powerful shot at goal, narrowly missing the bottom corner.
Ryan Moon came even closer for Amakhosi in the 20th minute, but the Chiefs striker could only rattle the woodwork with his attempt from close range.
At the other end, the Cape side were struggling to hold on to possession and found it hard to create any clear-cut chances in the final third.
The game went into the half time interval with the scoreline locked at 0-0.
Chiefs were dealt a major blow four minutes into the second half as Happy Mashiane was stretchered off the field after he was fouled by Dante Lamb. He was not substituted, however, as he continued after receiving treatment on the sidelines.
The pace of the game picked up after 50 minutes of play with both teams looking to attack, although they struggled to create any realistic chances in the final third.
Bulelani Cola came to his side’s rescue in the 64th minute when he produced a fine save to keep out Bernard Parker’s effort.
Wade Crowie had a great chance to hand Magic the lead two minutes later when he found some space to shoot, but he fired his volley wide of the target.
Cola once again kept his side in the game when he made a good save to deny Khama Billiat’s venomous strike.
The visitors should have taken the lead after 74 minutes when Billiat sent an inviting ball into the path of Leonardo Castro, but the Chiefs striker failed to make the most of his chances as it sailed wide of the target from close range.
Neither team could be separated after 90 minutes as the game was forced into extra time.
Amakhosi looked the stronger side throughout the game, although the scoreline remained goalless.
However, Chiefs eventually broke the deadlock in the 107th minute when Daniel Cardoso slotted the ball home from the spot-kick to make it 1-0.
The Glamour Boys then doubled their lead five minutes later as Philani Zulu found the back of the net after latching on to a pass from Dumisani Zuma.
Billiat all but sealed Chiefs’ victory in stoppage time when he drilled the ball home with his shot from close range.
Cardoso, Zulu and Billiat then proved to be the difference as Chiefs managed to hold on to their lead over Magic until the final whistle to advance to the Nedbank Cup semi-final.
