Amakhosi silence stubborn Maritzburg

SIYANDA Xulu scored a horror own goal and then a brilliant winner as Kaizer Chiefs came from two goals down at half-time to beat Maritzburg United 5-3 after extra time at Soccer City last night and advance in defence of their MTN8 title.

It looked like a calamitous start for Steve Komphela in his new role as Chiefs coach as his side fell behind to two defensive errors in their quarterfinal tie.

Maritzburg’s new coach Mandla Ncikazi made it clear from the start that they intended to be cautious but they found themselves ahead after just eight minutes as Siyanda Xulu and Ivan Bukenya, the new Chiefs centre back pairing, got caught in a tangle and Lentjies was able to break free. He raced down on goal, went wide and beat Reyaad Pieterse from a tight angle for a surprise opening goal.

Chiefs’ first real chance came after 27 minutes when Lebese found space on the left but shot across the goal and wide.

They were a lot closer three minutes before half-time when Parker produced a fine save from Virgil Vries and David Zulu thundered the rebound onto the crossbar.

But then an innocuous stray pass led to a free corner for Maritzburg in stoppage time at the end of the first half. It was brilliantly converted by defender Thamsanqa Teyise, on his debut after being signed on loan last week from SuperSport United, to give the visitors a surprise two-goal lead at the break.

But the second half was barely two minutes old when Siboniso Gaxa provided a perfect cross for Lebese to power home a header.

The momentum switched at this point as Chiefs found new confidence and Maritzburg panicked.

George Lebese scored twice in the second half and Bernard Parker added another to put Chiefs ahead, before Xulu put the ball in his own net and took the game to extra time.

But Xulu converted a flying overhead kick to make it 4-3 and Pule Ektssen added a fifth on the final whistle to conclude a night of high drama to the relief of Komphela, taking on his former side.