Return match vital for United, Chiefs
● Return match vital for United, Chiefs after first-leg semifinal draw
Something must give when SuperSport United visit Kaizer Chiefs in the second leg of the MTN8 semifinal clash at the FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday night.
After an enthralling game of football in front of a near capacity crowd in Atteridgeville on Sunday, they could not be separated and had to settle for a 2-2 draw but there must be a winner at the weekend.
United will be looking to book a place in the final against the winner between Mamelodi Sundowns and Cape Town City to keep their hopes of defending their crown alive.
Chiefs, whose two away goals may prove crucial in the second leg, remain desperate for a place in the final as they continue to search for their first trophy in three seasons and the first for new coach Giovanni Solinas.
United’s goals were scored by Bradley Grobler in the first half, while Chiefs ensured their share of the spoils with goals from Khama Billiat in the first half and Leonard Castro in the second half.
Chiefs were first on the score sheet when Dumisani Zuma delivered a telling cross to Billiat, who found home from close range after 20 minutes for his second goal in Amakhosi colours.
A few minutes later, United responded with a devastating attack of their own but Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune stood his ground to deny Grobler with a double save.
Grobler got it right in the 24th minute when he managed to beat Khune with a well-taken volley from inside the box.
United missed a golden opportunity to take the lead when midfielder Dean Furman unleashed a powerful drive from the edge of the box, only to be denied by the cross-bar with Khune well-beaten.
United coach Kaitano Tembo went with midfielder Phumlani Ntshangase to partner impressive Furman, Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Aubrey Modiba in the heart of the midfield.
Chiefs conceded possession in their own half and Ntshangase delivered a long throw-in to the Amakhosi penalty area, from where Grobler connected cleanly with the ball to beat Khune and defenders Ramahlwe Mphahlele and Daniel Cardoso, who were ballwatching in the 38th minute.
United went to the break leading 2-1, but Amakhosi equalised inside the first minute of the restart through Castro, who put the ball beyond the reach of United goalkeeper Ronwen Williams after he was released by Billiat. –