Amakhosi break Tuks hoodoo to reach MTN8 semis

THERE’s no stopping Kaizer Chiefs judging by the two matches played and won so far in this campaign.

It wasn’t quite a polished performance from Amakhosi last night, but the Glamour Boys have finally put one over AmaTuks and got their revenge after long being tormented by the university side.

Chiefs are through to the semifinals of the MTN8.

The central defence pairing of Tefu Mashamaite and Erick Mathoho was solid and were so in-form they managed to get on the score sheet. Morgan Gould, one of the club’s top signings last season but relegated to the bench after injury, should be worried by the consistency of Mashamaite and Mathoho.

It was Mashamaite who broke the deadlock with a beautiful goal in the fifth minute. It really looked like a practice session for Chiefs, despite the clumsy passes and failure to make good decisions in the final third, with George Lebese becoming a target for the boo-boys. So, defenders had to step in. Chiefs took their foot off the gas after they went a goal up, leaving Baxter livid on the touchline. They emerged from the dugout after the break a much more determined side and Mathoho rose high to head home and give Amakhosi a sec- ond goal after the hour mark.

It was almost a copy of the one scored by Mashamaite as Siphiwe Tshabalala picked him in the box from a corner kick, the same way he created opener. The header got a little help going in, but it was all Mathoho’s hard work.

Chiefs emerged after the break a much more determined side

Tuks were overwhelmed, which was puzzling because they had never lost to Chiefs. Cracks are beginning to show at the club in only their second season in top-flight football. And Chiefs sensed this, pushing forward and getting rewarded as Tshabalala shifted roles from provider to scorer in the 70th minute to make it 3-0.

Chiefs played it safe in the first half, but it seemed a tongue lashing from Baxter at the break did the trick as they upped their game.

Chiefs could have been in trouble in the first half if Tuks had capitalised on their lethargic play. A case in point was two minutes into the match when Obidiah Tarumbwa got a sniff at goal but Mathoho got in his way.

Both teams, for at least the opening 10 minutes were equally matched. Tuks looked good going forward, but lacked the finishing touch. Their coach Steve Barker should be questioned for leaving veteran striker Fikru Lemessa on the bench given the forwards work rate — especially against Chiefs in the past.

Lemessa did eventually come off the bench, but it was too little, too late to make an impact even though he showed he could have carried Tuks’ attack if he had been brought on earlier. ýIn the other match yesterday, Platinum Stars gave Free State Stars a soccer lesson at Royal Bafokeng Stadium yesterday, walloping them 3-0, writes Ramatsiyi Moholoa in Phokeng.