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Kaizer Chiefs secure a place in the next round of the Nedbank Cup

football26 January 2025 18:00| © Backpage TXT
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Chiefs players celebrate @ Gallo Images

Kaizer Chiefs have secured a place in the next round of the Nedbank Cup after a comfortable 4-0 win over Free Agents FC at the FNB Stadium on Sunday evening.

The Amakhosi have made a habit of embarrassing losses to lower-league opposition in the Nedbank Cup in recent years, but they successfully avoided this particular banana skin against a third-tier opponent thanks to a first-half brace from Pule Mmodi, as well as second-half goals from Ignacio Miguel and Ranga Chivaviro.

Chiefs almost got off to a flyer, with midfielder Nkosingiphile Ngcobo hitting the woodwork early on, but ultimately they only had to wait until the 18th minute to claim the lead, as Pule Mmodi stabbed home the opening goal after running onto a long ball over the top from goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma.

Mmodi made it 2-0 in the 26th minute, showing good composure to wrong-foot Agents goalkeeper Ugonna Igidimba before easily finishing, having been unselfishly set-up by Wandile Duba.

Mmodi spurned the chance for a hat-trick inside the opening half-hour when he rounded Igidimba but then squared for Happy Mashiane, whose heavy touch let the lower league side off the hook.

Agents created just once chance through the first half, as Nelson Ndlovu played in a fine low cross from the left to pick out the run of Sello Hlabitwa on 34 minutes, but Bvuma made a brave save at the feet of the attacker.

The Amakhosi did have one further concern in the first half, as Duba was forced off due to injury and replaced by Ranga Chivaviro just before the break – throwing doubt on the former’s availability for the Soweto derby against Orlando Pirates next weekend.

Both teams made changes at the start of the second half, and Agents did have some more attacking impetus to their play in the opening minutes, but Chiefs added a third goal shortly after the hour mark when defender Ignacio Miguel expertly headed home Mashiane’s cross.

The goal had a hint of offside about it and sparked strong protests from Agents, which ultimately resulted in a straight red card for Saheed Adebayo – leaving the lower league side down to 10 men for the remainder of the match.

The Amakhosi put further gloss on the score line with a fourth goal in the 83rd minute, as George Matlou stole the ball high up the pitch before feeding Chivaviro, who finished from inside the penalty area to wrap up the scoring.

Kaizer Chiefs (2) 4 (Mmodi 18’ 26’, Miguel 62’, Chivaviro 83’)

Free Agents FC 0

Chiefs: Bvuma, Frosler, Miguel, Ditlhokwe, Mashiane (Cross 87’), Maart (Mthethwa 46’), Ngcobo (Sirino 46’), Matlou, Vilakazi, Mmodi (Potsane 71’), Duba (Chivaviro 45’)

Agents: Igidimba (Shabalala 46’), Moloi (Simelane 46’), Sithole, Sello, Mokate, Adebayo, Motlhoiwa (Mphumela 46’), Dhladhla, Hlabitwa (Mogoshi 80’), Ndlovu, Mosweu (Sebopa 46’)

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