Stellenbosch lose to Chiefs and exit Nedbank Cup

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Saturday Mar 10, 2018. 22:31

Alan Robertson's late goal could not rescue Stellenbosch FC as they lost 2-1 to Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup, Last 16 on Saturday night at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

For the Naturena-based side, two goals came through defender Erick Mathoho and forward Leonardo Castro.

Amakhosi dominated the proceeding from the first whistle, but struggled to create clear cut openings.

Nonetheless, Chiefs persisted and scored in the 28th minute when Mathoho headed home a Parker corner-kick, 1-0.

Chiefs moved forward swiftly in the last five minutes of the opening stanza and Willard Katsande beat two men before laying a cross for Siphiwe Tshabalala whose effort sailed over the cross bar.

On the stroke of half time, Arubi denied Parker from a point blank range after the forward was set up by Tshabalala with a pin point pass.

It was 1-0 at half time for Chiefs.

Steve Komphela’s men upped the ante in the second half in search of their second goal and Joseph Molangoane rounded the keeper who was off his line, yet he hit the woodwork in the 60th minute.

With Khune merely becoming a spectator, the National First Division side would finally crack five minutes later when Castro unleashed a powerful shot to beat the Zimbabwean goalkeeper on his left corner, 2-0.

Against the run of play, Stellenbosch found the back of the net with Alan Robertson’s header on the near post to beat Khune from a set piece in the 76th minute, 2-1.

Steve Barker’s troops tried to find an equaliser, but could not beat the hosts defence as they saw their campaign coming to an end.

Kaizer Chiefs: (1) 2 (Mathoho 28’, Castro 65’)
Stellenbosch FC: (0) 1 (Robertson 76’)

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Cardoso, Mathoho, Hadebe, Zulu, Molangoane, Katsande, Meyiwa (Ekstein 62’), Tshabalala, Parker (Zuma 75’), Castro (Moon 85’)

Stellenbosch FC: Arubi, Ndlovu (Burds 70’), Barends, Robertson, Georgia (Lark 36’), Nkili, Wambi, Moroole, Rayners, Sithole, Makanda (Mason-Smith 61’)