Kaizer Chiefs were eliminated from the Nedbank Cup after a penalty shoot-out defeat to Milford FC at FNB Stadium on Sunday evening.
Five changes from the Amakhosi were instituted following their goalless draw with Royal AM as Zitha Kwinika, Edmilson Dove, Happy Mashiane, Sibongiseni Mthethwa and Mduduzi Shabala came in for Sifiso Hlanti, Reeve Frosler, Njabulo Ngcobo, Yusuf Maart and Pule Mmodi.
After a few glaring misses against Royal AM, the Amakhosi forward Ashley Du Preez looked to come good five minutes in but scooped Saile’s cutback onto the woodwork from close-range.
Milford were under further pressure earlier on and had to produce a goal-line clearance to smother Edson Castillo making the breakthrough from close-range.
Saile looked to go one better than his teammates a little later with a surging header from a pin-point corner to the six-yard box, but the Congolese forward sent his effort over the target.
Unlike the earlier stages, Chiefs penetrated more outside the area where Nkosingiphile Ngcobo’s first-time pull from a one-touch passing move forced Siphamandla Hleza to go down and make a save.
Hleza denied the host once ten minutes in the second half when he denied Du Preez’s side-footed shot in the box and pushed Shabalala’s rebound behind for a corner.
From the corner, Castillo came close through a header at the back-post but ended up going wide of the near post much to the frustration of the crowd.
Highly-rated youngster Mfundo Vilakazi made his debut, as the Amakhosi made a trio of changes around the midway mark with Ranga Chivaviro and Mmodi in as well.
Chiefs still battled later on as Dove pushed out to the right and cutback to send in a ferocious shot, but Hleza was equal to the task.
It fast became between Hleza and the host who palmed Chivaviro’s curling strike from the edge of the area onto the post before picking up the loose ball.
The match moved on to extra-time, as Milford continued to hold their own as Hleza denied Chivaviro from the spot following a hand-ball by Sonwabile Mfecane.
Milford were down to ten-men in the second period of extra-time after Vusumuzi Mthabela committed a poor foul on the danger area and picked up a second yellow thus a red card.
It remained an uphill battle for the Amakhosi even with a man advantage, as Milford held on for dear life and forced the match to a penalty shoot-out.
There were no goalkeeping heroics from either side, but Milford dispatched all their five kicks after Castillo had missed for the Amakhosi and saw the visitors into the last 16.
Confirmed line-ups:
Kaizer Chiefs: Bvuma, Mashiane, Dove, Msimango, Kwinika, Mthethwa, Castillo, Ngcobo, Shabalala, Du Preez, Salie
Subs: Petersen, Ngcobo, Dolly, Maart, Mmodi, Chivaviro, Solomons, Duba, Vilakazi.
Milford: Hleza, Thabela, Mbhele, Ngxongo, Somabhele, Mthiyane, Ndlabi, Nzama, Zikakayo, Gxakoshe, Chili
Subs: Madondo, Cele, Vilakazi, Mbambo, Mthethwa, Mkhize, Sivaya, Sigomoshe, Magubane
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