Chiefs win battle, lose war
Fans’ pitch invasion could land the Amakhosi in hot water
KAIZER Chiefs crashed out of the Confederation of African Football Champions League despite their victory last night and could find themselves in hot water with the continental football controlling body.
Some Chiefs fans invaded the pitch and charged at referee Rainhold Shikongo in protest at what they perceived to be the Namibian officials poor handling of the match.
The pitch invasion could see Chiefs, whose loss has relegated them to the less glamorous Confederations Cup, being sanctioned by Caf.
Trailing 3-0 from the first leg to the Congolese in Kinshasa last Sunday, Chiefs suffered a first half double whammy with injuries to goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse and goal-scorer Knowledge Musona.
Shikongo ruled Kingston Nkhatha’s goal offside in the fourth minute, booked the Chiefs’ striker for simulation moments later despite a clear foul, and ignored two penalty shouts from the local side.
The referee was not in control and turned a blind eye to Vita’s time-wasting tactics, further disrupting Chiefs’ rhythm.
But Amakhosi kept their hopes of qualifying for the group stages of Africa’s premier competition alive when they started the game with remarkable pace.
Musona scored in the ninth minute and Chiefs had the opposition on the back foot until goalkeeper Pieterse collided with the post in the 15th minute. Musona had earlier missed a glorious chance to score Amakhosi’s second goal of the night, which would have opened up this tie. By the time defender Morgan Gould increased the tally in the 90th minute it was too late for the Glamour Boys.
Pieterse sustained a nasty gash above his left eye. His teammates lost momentum and Brilliant Khuzwayo took young Pieterse’s place between the sticks after just 20 minutes of the first half.
Chiefs faced a hammer blow when Musona suffered an ankle injury and left the pitch, leaving coach Stuart Baxter no choice but to use his second substitution by bringing on Matthew Rusike just before halftime.
Chiefs desperately needed a goal, but Vita goalie Herve Lomboto stood firm.
Lomboto made two crucial saves minutes before and after the hour mark when he kept out Nkhatha’s goal-bound header, and was up to the task when Rusike popped up in the penalty box and unleashed a ferocious shot with his left foot.
Vita also had a following in the stands. Their fans had made it to the Calabash and spurred them on when they absorbed the pressure for the better half of the game.
The visitors’ only opportunity to add to their first leg tally came in the first minute when Nzinga Luvumbu’s free kick was tipped over by Pieterse for a corner kick.
Ndombe Mubele, who scored a hat-trick for Vita in Kinshasa, was silenced by the central defensive pairing of Morgan Gould and Tefu Mashamaite.
Chiefs hope to return to the Champions League next year if they win the South African Premier League in May or finish as runners-up.
Chiefs faced a hammer blow when Musona suffered an ankle injury and left the pitch before halftime