MTN8 Quarterfinal
Full Time: Kaizer Chiefs 5-3 Maritzburg United
Date: 05 August 2015
Venue: FNB Stadium
Kaizer Chiefs came from behind and scored two goals in extra time to beat Maritzburg United 5-3 following 120 minutes of footballing action in an MTN8 quarterfinal match at FNB stadium on Wednesday night.
Maritzburg made a great start to the game with Kurt Lentjies breaking through the middle of the Amakhosi defence, rounding the keeper and opening the scoring in the eighth minute.
Five minutes later Chiefs came close to an equaliser when Siphiwe Tshabalala met a low left wing cross from Tsepo Masilela, but he fired his 16-yard shot inches wide of the post.
In the 27th minute David Zulu fashioned some space for George Lebese 16-yards out, but he dragged his low attempt narrowly wide.
Chiefs continued to press forward and ten minutes later Bernard Parker should have found the equaliser when he was played through on goal by Reneilwe Letsholonyane, but he fired over from 14-yards out.
Parker came close again two minutes before the break when his deflected shot from the edge of the box was superbly saved by the Maritzburg keeper.
In the dying seconds of the half the Team of Choice doubled their lead when debutant Thamsanqa Teyise headed home a corner-kick, 2-0.
Two minutes after the restart Chiefs pulled a goal back when George Lebese powerfully headed home a right wing cross from Siboniso Gaxa, 2-1.
In the 50th minute Lebese provided a low pin-point cross for an unmarked Tshabalala who saw his shot stopped at point-blank range by the keeper before the follow up was knocked onto the crossbar by Zulu.
Two minutes later Chiefs did draw level when a low 24-yard shot from Parker stuck the left-hand post and crossed the goalline, 2-2.
The turnaround was complete in the 63rd minute when Lebese found his second of the night after an initial shot by Tshabalala was palmed into the path of the winger and he duly tapped home from close range, 3-2.
Chiefs looked to be heading to victory before some poor communication between Siyanda Zulu and Reyaad Pieterse in the 83rd minute resulted in the former heading the ball into his own net to make it 3-3.
Neither side could find the winner before the end of regulation time as the match headed into an additional 30 minutes.
Both teams looked tired in extra time, but Xulu managed to steal the limelight and redeem himself for the earlier mistake when an acrobatic effort from the defender six-yards out found the back of the net after Maritzburg failed to clear a free-kick into their box, 4-3.
Chiefs made certain of their victory in the dying seconds of extra time when Hendrick Ekstein found their fifth goal with a fine finish, 5-3.
