Bucs through to Vodacom Challenge Final
Bucs through to Vodacom Challenge Final
Posted: Jul 21 2011
Orlando Pirates will face Tottenham Hotspur in the Vodacom Challenge at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday after beating Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 in Port Elizabeth.
Tlou Segolela was the hero for Bucs in a fast-paced and highly physical game, scoring the winner on the hour-mark.
Someone should have told the players it was a pre-season match; especially the first 45 minutes were characterised by some strong challenges.
Chiefs were first to fire a shot off in anger – Lehlohonolo Majoro firing his drive from distance over the bar on seven minutes, before Daine Klate followed suit from a free-kick at the other end soon after. Dominic Isaacs could consider himself lucky to have remained on the field for his challenge on Tlou Segolela.
Siphiwe Tshabalala showed his skill on 12 minutes, side-stepping a defender before firing in a shot which Senzo Meyiwa did well to parry for a corner.
Siyabonga Sangweni showed on his debut against Tottenham Hotspur what a great buy he will prove to be, and he again came to the rescue 11 minutes later after Knowledge Musona ran onto Josta Dladla’s long pass and chipped the keeper, but the former Golden Arrows defender saved the day.
Not to be outdone, Itumeleng Khune produced a great one-on-one save after Segolela had burst through, before Sangweni again showed his class with a last-ditch tackle to deny Majoro.
Chiefs should have had the lead on 35 minutes. Musona’s deflected shot was only parried by Meyiwa, but Tshabalala inexplicably volleyed over with an open net.
Amakhosi brought on three substitutes at the start of the second half and one of them, Mandla Masango, nearly scored straight away, but his volley from eight yards out was weak and straight at Khune.
Then, on 59 minutes, the opening goal – Ruben Cloete’s cross from the left found Segolela at the far post. Sox looked to have wasted the moment with his first touch, but managed to fire a shot off which went under Khune’s body and into the back of the net.
Chiefs almost hit back through the hardworking Musona, but Happy Jele was on hand to take a dangerous cross off his foot right in front of goal. Jele almost scored at the other end with 10 minutes remaining, but his low drive was held by Khune.
Tried as they may, Chiefs could not find the equalizer – but they will have a quick chance at revenge when the two teams do battle in the Carling Black Label Cup on July 30.
Ryan Cooper
LINE-UPS:
Kaizer Chiefs: Itumeleng Khune – Jimmy Tau, Thomas Sweswe (Tefu Mashamaite 62), Dominic Isaacs, Jimmy Jambo (Keegan Ritchie 62) – Josta Dladla (Mthokozisi Yende 46), Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Tinashe Nengomasha, Siphiwe Tshabalala (Abia Nale 46) – Knowledge Musona (Lucky Khune 76), Lehlohonolo Majoro (Mandla Masango 46)
Orlando Pirates: Senzo Meyiwa – Happy Jele, Lucky Lekgwathi, Siyabonga Sangweni, Ruben Cloete – Tlou Segolela (Clifford Ngobeni 83), Andile Jali, Oupa Manyisa, Mark Mayambela (Thulasizwe Mbuyane 58), Daine Klate (Dikgang Mabalane 74) – Bongani Ndulula (Sameegh Doutie 65)
: 2011-07-21 22:17
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