JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 15: Leandro Sirino of Kaizer Chiefsâ?? celebrates scoring a goal with
Kaizer Chiefs progressed to the quarter-finals of the Nedbank Cup with a 3-0 victory over Chippa United on Saturday evening.
Nedbank Cup
Result: Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 Chippa United
Date: 15 February 2025
Venue: FNB Stadium
Coach Nasreddine Nabi handed a recall to Happy Mashiane who came in for Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, who will be leaving the club to join Libyan giants – while Tashreeq Morris continued to lead the line.
Chiefs made the bright start and opened the scoring on 12 minutes when Gaston Sirino opened his account in the cup with a superb first-time strike after getting on the end of Reeve Frosler’s cross.
The Chilli Boys, meanwhile, were second best for most of the early parts of the first half and were unable to provide an attacking outlet as the likes of Eva Nga and Craig Martin weren’t given time on the ball.
The hosts continued to dominate as the first half on, with Morris looking to get his first goal as he had two efforts in the 18 yard area saved by Chippa shot-stopper Stanley Nwabali.
Goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma ensured Chiefs went into the break with a slender lead as he produced a superb save to keep out Giovanni Philander’s volley.
Chippa coach Thabo September responded with change at the start of the second half as Martin made way for veteran midfielder Andile Jali in the midfield.
Jali’s arrival certainly helped the Chilli Boys shore up their midfield, which saw Chiefs have less of the ball through the middle, forcing them to go wide and long in the early stages of the second half.
Amakhosi coach Nabi responded with a double change for the final 20 minutes as Bradley Cross and Mduduzi Shabalala replaced Happy Mashiane and Sirino to freshen up the side.
The substitutions paid off as Shabalala won a penalty for Chiefs in the 74th minute after being fouled by Nwabali in the box. Inácio Miguel stepped up and calmly slotted his second goal of the season for the two-goal advantage.
The Soweto giants did bag a third goal with two minutes left on the clock as Pule Mmodi rounded off the scoring with a close rang finish after Nwabali could only parry Ranga Chivaviro’s low strike.
Here’s how they lined up:
Kaizer Chiefs: Bvuma, Mashiane, Frosler, Miguel, Dortley, Zwane, Cele, Sirino, Mmodi, Morris, Lilepo
Subs: Petersen, Blom, Msimango, Cross, Matlou, Shabalala, Potsane, Chivaviro, Vilakazi
Chippa United: Nwabali, Philander, Ndlovu, Makhele, Konqobe, Molaoa, Kwayiba, Modise, Eva Nga, Martin, Baloni
Subs: Johnson, Tyongwana, Mqokoza, Teto, Chabalala, Ntsabo, Maarman, Madingwana, Jali
.