Erratic goalkeeping and defensive blunders by Bidvest Wits aided Amakhosi's cruise into the semi-finals of the MTN8 competition as they edged the Students 3-1 at the Rand Stadium in Johannesburg last night.
The first goal by Kaizer Chiefs could be put down to the brilliance of Nkhosinathi Nhleko, while the other two could be attributed to the national under-20 goalkeeper's lack of experience.
Chiefs showed flashes of brilliance with great moves and it took only three minutes for the defending champions to open the scoring courtesy of Nhleko.
For Nhleko, whose move to Chiefs was heavily criticised by the club's fans, the goal meant a lot to him as it made many to have a change of heart.
Nhleko was a beneficiary of a Josta Dladla pass and the burly striker rifled a low shot beating young goalkeeper Darren Keet.
Wits were not gelling. Roger de Sa's troops hardly made constructive moves.
It was only towards the end of the first that Wits exposed the defence of Chiefs when they pulled one back. The Chiefs' defence was at sixes and sevens with five defenders in the box but none of them closed down Mark Haskins, who got on to the end of Sipho Mngomezulu's cross to score the equaliser in the 42nd minute.
That the score was 1-1 at the interval may have sent a wrong message that the two teams marched each other pound for pound.
Chiefs were ahead on points at the interval, but they hadn't been able to apply the finishing touches their play deserved.
It got better for them in the second half.
Amakhosi showed more intent and hunger for the win but Wits stood their ground.
In the 71st minute Mathebula, aided by Kleet's error, put Chiefs in the lead when he eliminated a Wits defender on the edge of the box before unleashing a shot that slipped past the goalkeeper.
While the Wits goalkeeper was struggling, the Chiefs No 1 was thriving. Wits tried to pull one back but their efforts were thwarted by Khune.
Even so, just when Marawaan Bantam of Wits thought his 25m freekick was destined for the net, his effort hit the post with Khune beaten. On the stroke of fulltime, Chiefs striker nailed in the final goal when he lobbied the ball over an advancing keet, who had a debut he won't want to remember.
source: http://www.iol.co.za/
