Kaizer Chiefs fight back to reach Carling Knockout semi-finals

Kaizer Chiefs overturned an early deficit to beat Siwelele 2-1 and secure a place in the Carling Knockout semi-finals at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday evening.

The match began at a fast pace, with both goalkeepers called into action during the opening five minutes. Siwelele’s Jody February produced the first important save in the second minute, keeping out Mduduzi Shabalala’s effort after it became the game’s first opportunity.

Brandon Petersen then responded at the other end, denying Sphesihle Jeza a few minutes later. The Chiefs goalkeeper was called upon again in the ninth minute, using his trailing leg to keep out Vincent Pule’s attempt and turn the ball behind for a corner.

Siwelele made the resulting set-piece count. Manelisi Mazibuko delivered the corner into a dangerous area and Siyabonga Ndebele rose highest to power a header past Petersen in the 11th minute.

Chiefs were given the chance to level when Mfundo Vilakazi was clipped by Pule inside the penalty area in the 36th minute. Shabalala, however, sent his spot-kick over the crossbar.

Amakhosi missed another opportunity moments later, when Wandile Duba was unable to convert from a tight angle after the penalty had been missed.

Chiefs were awarded a second penalty on the stroke of half-time after referee Masixole Bambiso ruled that Ndebele had fouled Shabalala in the box. This time Duba made no mistake, sending February the wrong way to restore parity.

Duba was later replaced by Flavio Silva in the 75th minute.

Siwelele made three changes at the interval, with Njabulo Ngcobo, Cristian Saile and Shadrack Kobedi coming on for Ndebele, Matthew Marou and Relebogile Mokhuoane.

The second half lacked the fluency of the opening period, with both teams struggling to put together sustained passing moves and retain possession for long spells.

Chiefs eventually found the decisive moment in the 84th minute. Asanele Velebayi had been on the pitch for only nine minutes after replacing Shabalala when he collected the ball from Silva and finished from a tight angle, rolling his effort through February’s legs.

The goal completed the turnaround and sent Chiefs into the semi-finals. It was Velebayi’s first goal since joining Chiefs in August last year.