Chiefs eliminate brave FC Buffalo in Cup clash

A SECOND string Kaizer Chiefs selection made heavy work of their Nedbank Cup assignment against amateur opposition from the Eastern Cape last night, scoring a bizzare own goal to allow FC Buffalo to make a fight of a second round tie that eventually saw Chiefs home 2-1.

The ghost of Baroka FC hung heavy overhead at a sparsely-populated Soccer City as the rusty Chiefs reserves battled to overcome their amateur opponents and book a quarter-final place.

It is the end a diving header from Mandla Masango that provided relief for Chiefs as he scored a second half winner, steering home a cross from George Lebese.

But Chiefs breathed a heavy sigh of relief as Buffalo’s man of the match Mduduzi Mabaso struck the upright in the closing stages that had it gone in would have forced the game into extra time.

Admittedly Chiefs did hit the woodwork twice themselves and had three efforts cleared off the line by the Buffalo defenders but this was a far from convincing performance as the narrow scoreline indicated.

Chiefs took their time about setting up chances with most of their opportunities in the first half coming from set pieces, including the opening goal on the half-hour mark from Ivan Bukenya.

The imposing Ugandan international centre back force a strong header home from a 30th minute corner.

FC Buffalo had little to offer in the air with Mulomowando Mathoho also having opportunities as he pushed forward from defence.

Mathoho was close on at least five occasions to scoring with his head.

But a bizarre own goal from left back Simphiwe Mtsweni on the stroke of half-time allowed Buffalo to go into the break level with the defending champions.

Mtsweni had time and space to pull down an innocuous-looking cross from left but instead casually swept the ball into his own net.

Coach Stuart Baxter rested his entire line-up from Sunday’s loss in the African Champions League in Kinshasa, saying they were exhausted and with the tough schedule ahead he needed to rotate.

Three years years ago Chiefs suffered their most humiliating defeat when they were beaten by Baroka FC in the quarter-finals, the first time a side from the top flight of the professional game had been beaten by opposition from the third tier of South African football.

The chance of that happening again was alive throughout as a gallant Buffalo did not look overawed on the imposing pitch at Soccer City.

Chiefs go into today’s quarterfinal draw along with African Warriors, Bidvest Wits, Bloemfontein Celtic, Mamelodi Sundowns, Maritzburg United, Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United. It will be conducted in Johannesburg at lunchtime.

• At Dobsonville Stadium Supersport United got in on the act last night, dumping Moroka Swallows out of the Nedbank Cup and making sure the Dube Birds continue what has turned out to be a nightmarish season.

Thuso Phala scored the only goal of the game with a clinically taken strike in the 68th minute after being set-up by defender Thabo Moloi.

Matsatsantsa’s 1-0 victory also marked the return of prodigal son Jabu Mahlangu to the pitch after a sensational return when the former Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Bafana midfielder was handed a short-term contract by United last week aged 33.