Musona Makes Chiefs’ Fans Ecstatic

20 November 2010

Telkom Knockout Cup

Score: Kaizer Chiefs 1 – 0 Santos

Date: 20 November 2010

Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium 

Referee: Harry Lekitlane

It took 115 minutes for Kaizer Chiefs to find a way through the resolute Santos defence and in so doing book their slot in the Telkom Knockout Final. A capacity crowd at the Peter Mokaba Stadium witnessed the Amakhosi huff and puff into extra-time to defeat the People’s Team.

It was the club’s tops scorer so far this season, Knowledge Musona, who stayed sharp throughout and eventually slotted home the winner. With Santos lining up with a deep lying back four and two defensive midfielders many would have been expecting penalties when Musona popped up with the winner.

The match started brightly with the ever influential, Reneilwe Letsholonyane firing the first shot at goal. The ball, hit from long range in the fifth minute, was easily caught by Cape goalkeeping hero Tshepo Motsoeneng in the Santos goal.

Three minutes later Santos almost conceded. Siphiwe Tshabalala combined with Musona and the Santos defence forced the Zimbabwean wide. But Musona whipped in a low cross which Wayne Arendse almost turned into his own net. Motsoeneng had to be sharp to save his defender’s blushes.

In the 12^th minute Stembiso Ngcobo dove to meet a cross from the Chiefs right, but the striker couldn’t make contact with his head. At the last second he stretched out with his hand, deflecting the ball just past the Santos upright. Mr Harry Lekitlane was not fooled and flashed a yellow card at the Chiefs man.

As the half progressed Santos began to feature a little more, but it was not until the 24^th minute that they could muster a shot at goal. It was the effervescent Sekou Camara who had the effort, but Intumeleng Kune was not to be deceived by what turned out to be a tame effort.

The remainder of the half saw lots of attacking action from Chiefs, but Santos were resolute in defence, often keeping the Glamour Boys at bay outside the Santos penalty area.

The pattern continued in the second-half of regulation time, with Chiefs still shading the possession stakes but unable to penetrate the Santos penalty area.

For their part Santos played with more accuracy in the second 45. They troubled Chiefs with quick counters and in the 49^th minute Gregory Roelf came close to playing Camara in on goal. Kune was alert to the danger though and came out smartly to smother Roelf’s ball across the face of goal.

Chiefs’ dominance nearly came to naught in the 54^th minute when Thomas Sweswe, running back towards his own goal deflected a Santos cross towards his own goal. Once again Kune was sharp and the big keeper parried the ball over his crossbar.

On attack Kune was in excellent form too, spraying accurate long passes 60 yards and more in the thin highveld air. In the Chiefs engine room Letsholonyane pushed forward allowing the Santos attackers more space but also creating havoc in their defence. Time and time again Chiefs created half chances through Letsholonyane, Tshabalala and Musona but muscular defending by the Santos back four kept the scores deadlocked. Peter Mponda in particular was in inspired form and had a dominant hand in keeping the fancied Glamour Boys at bay as full time drew close.

At the end of 90 minutes the scores were still locked at nil – nil so the sides retook the field for an extra 30 minutes.

The first 15 of these saw Chiefs continue to dominate, but Santos remained resolute. The Chiefs’ fans clearly felt the strain as they quietened slightly. But Musona was unaffected by the pressure, forcing his way beyond the Santos defence on more than one occasion. But every time a last ditch tackle put him off.

The second 15 minutes of injury time begun with the sides still at nil – nil and with penalties now looming large Santos lost focus for a crucial few seconds. With less that five minutes of extra-time to play Tshabalala burst away from two tired defenders and crossed into the Santos penalty area. Motsoeneng appeared to have the ball in his hands, but crucially spilled the ball on the way down. The loose ball fell to Musona who fired home, from about two yards out, as three Santos defenders lunged towards him.

Then with 117 minutes on the clock Santos surged up field, but Mogogi Gabonamong fired into the Chiefs’ side netting when the intelligent option would have been a ball across the face of goal for the onrushing Romano Scott.

So it ended, after 120 minutes of gripping action, Kaizer Chiefs one, Santos zero.

What did you make of the first semi-final of this season’s Telkom Knockout?

Kaizer Chiefs: Intumeleng Kune, Valery Nahayo, Jimmy Tau, Thomas Sweswe, Punch Masenamela, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Knowledge Musona, Josta Dladla (Abia Nale, 67), Tinashe Nengomasha and Stembiso Ngcobo (Mthokozisi Yende, 77).

Santos: Tshepo Motsoeneng, Tyren Arendse, Wayne Arendse, Peter Mponda, Ricardo Skippers, Jurie Basie (Bonginkosi Macala, 105), Boitumelo Mafoko, Boitumelo Mafoko (Musa Otieno 53), Mogogi Gabonamong, Solomon King, Gregory Roelf and Sekou Camara (Romano Scott, 70).