CHIEFS FIGHT BACK IN THE SECOND HALF TO KNOCK OUT MARITZBURG
18 October 2020
Maritzburg United were unable to drive home their first half advantage at the FNB Stadium on Sunday afternoon and resultantly lost 2-1 to Kaizer Chiefs in an MTN8 quarter-final clash.
United made a solid start to the match, acquitting themselves well and taking the game to Chiefs, although they were just unable to find the final touches to what were some promising moves.
Amakhosi began to find a bit of thrust of their own around the half hour mark. But when they gave away the ball in midfield, Keegan Buchanan pounced quickly to thread in Thabiso Kutumela, who superbly held his nerve under pressure from Daniel Cardoso before beating Itumeleng Khune with a delicate curling effort into the far post to give Maritzburg the lead on 34 minutes.
Another chance followed for the Team of Choice three minutes before the break when Judas Moseamedi powered down the right wing before pulling the ball back for Bongokuhle Hlongwane, who was denied at the second attempt by Khune.
Maritzburg came even closer just moments later when Daylon Claasen played in Hlongwane, who smashed a left-footed shot goalwards only to see it coming back off the underside of the bar.
Just 20 seconds into the second half and there was a fortunate escape for United when Bernard Parker thundered a volley into the upright.
The pressure continued to come from the Soweto side and Parker had another good chance on 50 minutes but fired over the bar before narrowly pulling another effort wide eight minutes later.
The crossbar came to Maritburg's rescue again in the 67th minute when Njabulo Blom's deflected effort hit the woodwork.
It was from a set-piece that the Glamour Boys equalised as Yagan Sasman stole in at the back post to bundle home a Khama Billiat corner in the 73rd minute.
And just two minutes later it was heartbreak for Maritzburg as Sasman again arrived in the box to get on the end of a Billiat corner, this time scoring more emphatically with his head.
The Team of Choice upped their efforts in the final 15 minutes as they tried to take the game to extra time.
But they struggled to create clear chances and it took a good save at the other end of the park by Bongani Mpandle to deny Billiat.
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