Chiefs eliminate FC Buffalo

Kaizer Chiefs booked their place in the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup when they defeated FC Buffalo 2-1 at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday night.

Ivan Bukenya and Mandla Masango were on target for Amakhosi, while an own-goal from Simphiwe Mtsweni kept the SAFA Second Division side in the game until the final whistle.

The home side applied pressure early but Bukenya’s headed failed to hit the target in the 9^th minute, before Katlego Mphela rushed his header over the crossbar seven minutes later.

Chiefs threatened again in the 21^st minute when Siyabonga Nkosi cut in from the left side, but his low strike was turned around the post by Thando Mthimkhulu, who was also on hand to keep out Erick Mathoho’s header a minute later.

FC Buffalo fired their first shot on target in the 25^th minute when Themba Maloyi was released on the left, but Brilliant Khuzwayo was able to hold on to the ball after an initial fumble.

Amakhosi were then denied twice in quick succession in the 29^th minute as Mathoho and Mandla Masango both saw their efforts cleared before the line by defenders.

The deadlock was broken a minute later as Bukenya attacked Mandla Masango’s corner at the near post to head the ball past the diving goalkeeper.

However, the two sides went into the break with the scores level at 1-1 after Mtsweni nudged the ball into his own net while trying to clear a cross from Mhlengi Sigwebela in the 45^thminute.

The action continued in the second half with Mathoho heading just over the crossbar in the 47^th minute, while Myron Hoffman headed narrowly wide at the other end in the 49^th minute.

Chiefs threw everything at the visitors but were a few inches off the mark with Nkosi firing against the upright in the 55^th minute, while Mathoho was also denied by the woodwork two minutes later.

The pressure eventually paid off in the 69th minute when Masango finished with a diving header from the centre of the box following some good work from George Lebese on the left.

Both sides had opportunities to change the scoreline in the final minutes of the game but Mathoho was denied by another goal-line clearance in the 83^rd minute, while Mduduzi Mabaso saw his solid strike cannoning off the upright five minutes later.

Kaizer Chiefs (1) 2 (Bukenya 30’, Masango 69’)

FC Buffalo (1) 1 (Mtsweni o.g. 45’)

Teams:

Kaizer Chiefs: Khuzwayo, Gordinho (Gaxa 64’), Mathoho, Bukenya, Mtsweni, Baloyi, Maluleka, Lebese, Masango (Rusike 86’), Nkosi (Parker 64’)

FC Buffalo: Mthimkhulu, Maloyi (Smith 71’), Mgedezi (Kukama 62’), Phehelo, Sigwebela (Rautini 83’), Dlamini, Hoffman, Madimabe, November, Mabaso, Taliwe

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