Staff Reporter.
Kaizer Chiefs booked their MTN8 semi-final spot after beating Stellenbosch 4-3 in a penalty shootout after it handed 1-1 at the Danie Craven Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Thousands of Chiefs fans descended on the winelands town without match tickets even though the 17 000 capacity stadium was sold out.
The win saw Chiefs join AmaZulu FC and Orlando Pirates in the semifinals. The Soweto giants will now take on AmaZulu in a DStv Premiership encounter at home on September 3.
While Stellies crashed out of the tournament after making their debut appearance in the competition. The Western Cape side is set to play host to Richards Bay in a league clash on September 3.
Stellies threatened first when a through pass was played for Junior Mendieta to attack. However, the Argentine attacker scuffed his shot with goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune having been caught off his goal-line.
The hosts were controlling the game with Sibongiseni Mthethwa dominating the midfield battle. It should have been 1-0 to Stellenbosch when Sihle Nduli beat Khune with a header, but the crossbar came to Chiefs’ rescue.
Amakhosi’s best chance of the first half fell for Ashley du Preez, but the former Stellies striker ballooned his shot over the crossbar from close range and the score was 0-0 during the halftime break.
A second half that saw both teams make defensive mistakes followed with Jayden Adams stealing possession from Njabulo Ngcobo before quickly setting up Ndluli who scored to hand Stellenbosch a 1-0 lead in the 48th minute.
However, the lead lasted for 10 minutes as the visitors surged forward and pressed the hosts. Oswin Andries gave away possession and Du Preez scored from close range to make it 1-1 much to the delight of the Chiefs fans in the stadium.
The encounter ended in a 1-1 draw in regulation time and extra-time followed with referee Jelly Chavani having changed his decision to award Stellenbosch a penalty in stoppage time after adjudging Keagan Dolly to have handled the ball in the box.
There were no goals in extra-time and the game was decided by a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. Khune was the hero as Chiefs won 4-3 on penalties with the veteran shot-stopper denying William Likuta and Dean van Rooyen from the spot-kick.