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Chiefs 0 Free State Stars 1

2012-04-15 12:10:02

Free State Stars booked their place in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals with a 1-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs at the Peter Mokaba Stadium

Majoro, Masheigo and Masehe

Dove Wome netted the only goal of the game as he got his head to a Ayanda Gcaba cross from the left hand side after 60 minutes.

Under the guidance of Ace Khuse, Doctor Khumalo and Arthur Zwane, Amakhosi started brightly and dominated proceedings for much of the first half.

Tefu Mashamaite had Chiefs’ first real chance with a wayward shot after a Siphiwe Tshabalala corner.

Kennedy Mweene was then forced to punch clear a free-kick from Tshabalala, who was his influential self throughout the match.

Stars really struggled to keep hold of the ball in the opening exchanges before Wome began to exert his influence on the match.

Some good interplay from Stars on the edge of the Chiefs box saw Edward Mnqele get a shot away but his effort was deflected out for a corner.

But it was Willard Katsande who came closest to grabbing an opener after a super run into the Stars box.

He managed to get his shot away but it proved to be little more than a toe poke. Mweene though did well to hold onto the ball with Lehlohonolo Majoro ready to pounce had he fumbled the effort.

With the first half winding down, Arthur Bartman was forced to make a smart save off the boot of Chiefs defender Zhiamu Jambo after he failed to clear a snap shot inside the box from Mnqele.

Mweene then had to be alert to deny Ngcobo after he got his head to a Jimmy Tau cross.

And Paulus Masehe failed to keep his header on target for the last chance of the first half.

The start of the second half was a scrappy affair with neither side able to maintain possession for any real period of time.

Stars slowly began to find their feet and take the game to Chiefs although it was Mweene who made a smart save with his foot from a snap shot from Ngcobo after he was released through the middle by Tshabalala.

Chiefs then really should have been awarded a penalty with the referee giving a free-kick for a foul by Phumlani Mhamha on Majoro inside the box.

Tshabalala came very close to hitting the target with the subsequent free-kick that skimmed the top of the net.

Mashaba then forced a fine save from Bartman after the player left Tau for dead as he raced into the box.

But just when you thought that neither side would find the target, Wome got his head to a pinpoint Gcaba cross.

Mnqele came close to adding a second for his side with a volley from the edge of the small box but Jambo was well placed to make a block.

Both Ngcobo and Majoro flung themselves at a Tshabalala cross as the game looked to be getting away from Chiefs with Amakhosi having another good penalty appeal waved away in the dying seconds.

Questions will now be raised about whether or not the club were right to sack Vladimir Vermezovic so close to such an important cup tie that gave the management trio so little time to exert their influence on the side.

But Steve Komphela’s stock keeps rising with yet another scalp of one of the so-called “big teams”.