Kaizer Chiefs only have one trophy to fight for this season after being eliminated from the Nedbank Cup by Highlands Park on penalties at a sold-out Makhulong Stadium.
Chiefs head coach Ernst Middendorp recalled goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune Kgotso Moleko, Yagan Sasman and Bernard Parker while Kenyan midfielder Anthony Akumu got his first start.
Amakhosi were under pressure in the early stages and almost went behind in the sixth minute after Peter Shalulile broke away clear from a flicked header but his low shot was saved by Khune.
Middendorp’s charges took time to settle but they started to get going after 20 minutes, as Akumu got close to getting the opener with a powerful half-volley from the edge of the box that was parried away by Highlands goalkeeper Marlon Heugh.
The later phases of the first stanza proved to be quite a scrappy affair from both sides as chances were hard to come by after some poor decision-making in the final third.
Owen Da Gama’s troops eventually went ahead three minutes before the hour-mark, as Shalulile poked home a close-range shot at the back post from Lucky boy Mokoena’s free-kick.
Chiefs were fired up to get back into the game and they found the equaliser six minutes later thanks to an own goal by Sello Motsepe, who deflected the ball into the top corner of his own net trying to clear across.
Highlands were also threatening to snatch the winner in the closing stages and Abdi Banda had a good chance in the last ten minutes free at the back post but fired his strike over the bar.
The game was on edge in the closing minutes and Chiefs nearly netted the winner in stoppage time from Lebogang Manyama’s corner but Willard Katsande’s header at the back post sailed over the bar, sending the game to extra-time.
Early in the second period of extra-time, Musa Nyatama almost snatched the winner for the hosts in the last eight minutes with a low strike from a blindside after a cut-back from Shalulile but Khune made a crucial save.
The clash eventually went to a shoot-out, where Nyatama converted the winning spot-kick in sudden death after Billiat had struck the upright.
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Source – SoccerLaduma
