Wafa Wafa semis finely balanced
SEMIFINAL: TWO VITAL AWAY GOALS FOR SOLINAS’ MEN
SuperSport have it all to do going into the second leg.
Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport have it all to play for in their MTN8 semifinal after the first leg finished in a 2-2 draw yesterday at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville.
Khama Billiat’s star at Amakhosi continues to shine ever so brightly as he was the one who broke the deadlock in the 19th minute after connecting well with a Dumisani Zuma cross from the left flank.
Matsatsantsa a Pitori re- sponded about five minutes later through Man-of-the-Match Bradley Grobler, who fired past Itumeleng Khune to level matters and opened his account for the season.
It did not take long for Grobler to double up and put United’s noses in front as he completed his brace in the 37th minute.
At the start of the second half, United were hoping to pick up where they left off but Chiefs had other ideas. It took Leonardo Castro less than two minutes into the second half to bring the game back to level pegging as he scored his third goal of the season.
Kaitano Tembo was the first to make changes when he brought on striker James Keene, who came in for Reneilwe Letsholonyane, giving United’s front line three natural strikers in Evans Rusike and Grobler. Tembo later took off Fagrie Lakay and introduced Thuso Phala to the fray to refresh his attack.
However, the player who received the most applause upon his entrance was Chiefs veteran and fan favourite Bernard Parker.
Fans at the Lucas Moripe Stadium roared their delight when Giovanni Solinas instructed Parker to put on his gear as he was about to come on.
Parker came on for Bongolwethu Jayiya, and in so doing made his fourth consecutive appearance off the bench.
The Naturena-based outfit will host United in the second leg at the beginning of next month at the FNB Stadium, where they will hope their two away goals will prove to be golden enough to see them reach the final.
Match-winner Fielies surprised by Brazilians line-up.
Match-winner Taariq Fielies admitted Cape Town City were surprised by the Mamelodi Sundowns team that Pitso Mosimane named in the MTN8 semifinal, first leg between the two sides in the Mother City.
Benni McCarthy’s men take a 1-0 lead into the second leg, thanks to Fielies’ second-half strike.
Perhaps Mosimane was looking at the grander plan when he selected his team, as the Brazilians have a do-or-die Caf Champions League encounter with Guinea side Horoya AC tomorrow.
He fielded Lucky Mohomi, who had not kicked a ball since last October, while the likes of Sphelele Mkhulise and Mosa Lebusa were handed their debuts as key personnel were rested for tomorrow’s match, which Sundowns must win to make the Champions League quarterfinals.
“Sundowns shocked us with the team they had, we didn’t plan for such a squad. But at the end of the day we are all professionals and we have to adapt to what happens,” Fielies told SuperSport TV when he received his Man-of-the-Match award.
The second leg will take place on September 2 at the Lucas
We should give credit to Benni, he is playing a good brand of football.
Pitso Mosimane Mamelodi Sundowns coach
Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, where Fielies is confident that City can build on their 1-0 advantage to advance to what would be a second successive final.
“We only have one foot in the final and we can’t get ahead of ourselves. I am happy with the result and I’m looking forward to the second leg because we have a goal to defend. The game is going to be very difficult,” said Fielies.
Masandawana may have lost the game but Mosimane was not particularly disappointed, as he banks on the second leg to turn the tie around.
“We should give credit to Benni, he is doing well and playing a good brand of football, it is beautiful for our country to have young coaches playing like this.
“I am not unhappy with my team. It was just change of personnel but not a change of the philosophy. We have to give them a chance to play,” Mosimane told SuperSport TV.