Bernard Parker (R)
The MTN8 semifinal first leg match between Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town ended in an uninspiring goalless draw at FNB Stadium on Saturday night.
Though it was an unsatisfying game from a spectator’s point of view, both camps will take positives out of the result.
An away draw in the first leg is a respectable result for the Urban Warriors, knowing that they will have home advantage in the all-important second leg.
As for Chiefs, the fact they have not conceded an away goal means any score draw in Cape Town next week will put them into the final.
The draw for the two-legged semifinals of the MTN8 sees Kaizer Chiefs take on Ajax Cape Town and Orlando Pirates tackle Mamelodi Sundowns.
Unlike last year, the Soweto giants Chiefs and Pirates were kept apart in the semifinal draw but it does present the possibility of them meeting in the final of the competition.
But both need to negotiate tough ties first, with Chiefs up against Ajax, who beat them in the semifinals of the 2009 version of the tournament.
The AmaKhosi will draw their inspiration from the 4-0 hammering they gave the Urban Warriors towards the end of last season, but this is an Ajax side full of confidence following their 5-2 thrashing of SuperSport United in the quarterfinals.
Sifiso Myeni by Jimmy Tau
“Chiefs were the better team and deserved to win” said BidVest Wits’ Bhongolwethu Jayiya after his side lost 2-1 to Kaizer Chiefs in their MTN8 quarterfinal match at FNB Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Many, however, would disagree with the Student’s striker following the MTN8 match between the two Gauteng based teams and some would say they were a little unlucky to lose.
On the balance of play Wits did look the better side as they passed the ball around nicely and dominated the possession stakes. But as the old saying goes in football, if you don’t take your chances in front of goal you don’t deserve to win. And while Wits looked the superior team they couldn’t find the back of the net when it counted.
Siyabonga Sangweni
Orlando Pirates needed extra time to defeat Santos 1-0 in their MTN8 quarterfinal at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday evening.
New signing Siyabonga Sangweni marked his official debut with a goal in the 105th minute, helping the Buccaneers join Ajax Cape Town and Mamelodi Sundowns in the last four of the competition.
Hardly any chances were created in the first half of the regulation 90 minutes, though Pirates’ Bongani Ndulula and Santos’ Vuyisile Wana both had opportunities they could possibly have made more of.
The Soweto side enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, but the visitors from Cape Town were more than happy to sit back and use the pace of their forwards on the counter attack.
RSS Feed