Chiefs sneak past unlucky Leopards

Kaizer Chiefs were made to sweat for their place in the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup as they sneaked past Black Leopards 1-0 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Knowledge Musona’s goal in the 110^th minute of the match was the difference between the two sides.

There was an early chance for the home team to go in front with just five minutes on the clock.

David Zulu’s shot from just six-yards out on goal was deflected wide by a Chiefs defender with Chiefs keeper Brilliant Khuzwayo looking beaten.

Chiefs defender Tefu Mashamaite could have given his side the lead in the 30^th minute when he was at the end of a well worked free-kick.

The tall Chiefs defender met George Maluleka’s cross at the back post and unleashed a powerful shot with his left foot that brought the best out of Leopards keeper Jacob Mokhasi.

Leopards dominated most of the match and poor decisions in the final third cost them as they let Chiefs off the hook on numerous occasions.

Five minutes before the end of the match Karabo Tshepe tested Khuzwayo when a Chiefs defenders retreated and allowed him space - he cracked a long range shot which Khuzwayo spectacularly finger tipped over the bar.

The match went into extra time and that was where the experience of Chiefs paid off over their National First Division opponents.

With just ten minutes remaining in the match Leopards shot themselves in the foot with an error at the back.

After a miscue from a Leopards defender the ball fell into the path of Tshabalala who then found Musona and the Zimbabwean international fired a shot past Mokhasi for the winning goal.

Black Leopards (0)0

Kaizer Chiefs (0)1 Musona 110’

Leopards: Mokhasi, Manaka, Mabotja (Ramodumo 102’), Munganga, Nyirenda, Munyai, Mumuni, Tshepe, Ntshangase (Ndebele 86’), Ndou (Amidu 69’), Zulu

Chiefs: Khuzwayo, Gaxa, Gould, Mashamaite, Mtsweni, Katsande, Maluleka (Letsholonyane 66’), Tshabalala, Lebese, Nkosi (Rusike 87’), Mphela (Musona 65’)