Chiefs ease past AmaZulu
Kaizer Chiefs thrashed AmaZulu FC 3-0 in a Telkom Knockout Cup Last 16 match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday night.
The emphatic victory sees Amakhosi progress into the quarterfinals, while Usuthu bow out of the competition.
Usuthu should have broken the deadlock just five minutes into the match with the Amakhosi defence exposed.
However, Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune was alert and he came out to deny AmaZulu striker Rhulani Manzini.
Siphiwe Tshabalala, the Chiefs midfielder, who was recently recalled to the South Africa senior national team, was looking lively for the hosts.
Usuthu had another glorious opportunity to take the lead in the 23rd minute with the Amakhosi defence exposed once again.
But somehow Mabhuti Khenyeza missed the target from close range from a one-on-one situation against Chiefs captain Khune.
AmaZulu were left to rue that missed opportunity as Chiefs took the lead through attacking midfielder George Maluleka.
The former South Afrca youth international scored with a beautiful curling shot to make it 1-0 to Chiefs in the 32nd minute.
Maluleka nearly doubled Chiefs lead eight minutes later, but this time AmaZulu keeper Boalefa Pule denied him.
Chiefs were deservedly leading 1-0 at halftime against AmaZulu, who had failed to convert their chances in the first-half.
Amakhosi started the second-half like a house on fire as they pressed Usuthu and the hosts managed to double their lead.
Hendrick Ekstein beat former Bidvest Wits shot-stopper Pule with a deflected shot to make it 2-0 to Chiefs in the 55th minute.
It was soon 3-0 to Chiefs when Tshabalala fired home from close range in the 59th minute after AmaZulu had failed to clear the ball away.
Siyabonga Nomvethe, who had scored for Usuthu against Mamelodi Sundowns last weekend, kept the Chiefs defence with his pace.
The veteran striker did well down the left hand side playing crosses into the Chiefs box, but Chiefs dealt well Nomvethe's deliveries.
Both sides launched attacks in the closing stages, but they could not score and in the end, Chiefs ran out 3-0 winners over AmaZulu.
Chiefs (1) 3 (Maluleka 32', Ekstein 55', Tshabalala 59')
AmaZulu (0) 0
Chiefs: Khune, Cardoso, Mathoho, Ngezana, Zulu, Katsande, Maluleke, Ekstein (85'), Tshabalala (Moon 74'), Molangoane, Parker (Zuma 69').
AmaZulu: Pule, Mbatha B, Sikhakhane, Gumede M, Gumede P, Darpoh, Ncube (Mnguni 83'), Ncobeni, Cele, Manzini (Ntsundwana 76'), Khenyeza (Nomvethe 60').