Du Preez rescues Chiefs against Casric Stars

Ashley Du Preez came off the bench to help Kaizer Chiefs reach the last eight of the Nedbank Cup on Sunday evening, as the Soweto Giants claimed a 2-1 win against Casric Stars at the FNB Stadium.

While Amakhosi enjoyed most of the ball during the feeling-out process, the game got off to a slow start at the FNB Stadium. Taking the patient approach, Chiefs looked for openings in the Casric defence as the visitors sat back in soaking up the early pressure.

Chiefs were awarded a penalty just before the 10th minute as the referee cited a handball inside the Casric box.

Standing over the ball, Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net as he sent the opposition goalkeeper in the opposite direction.

The travelling outfit struggled to get into the game and were reduced to hitting Amakhosi on the break. With little threats coming their way, Amakhosi did well to ward off the sporadic Casric counter-attacking moves.

After taking the lead, Chiefs then found it difficult to move the ball up field and played most of the ball in the middle of the park. However, the Glamour Boys looked comfortable after 30 minutes on the clock.

Casric Stars carved out a number of opportunities toward the end of the first half, nevertheless, Amakhosi went into the break unscathed with their slender 1-0 lead.

Much like that of the first 45, Chiefs settled on the ball as soon as the whistle was blown for the subsequent half and initiated their attacking moves from defensive positions.

Casric Stars levelled matters at the hour mark in what was a goal completely against the run of play. Pushing high up the pitch, the Casric attackers forced the Chiefs defenders into making errors inside their own box and were dispossessed of the ball in the process. After Brandon Petersen saved Kgomotso Mosadi’s first shot, the Casric star made sure to bury the ball into the back of the net with his second shot at the goalkeeper.

Amakhosi retook the lead a minute later, as second-half substitute Ashley Du Preez capped off a well-worked passing move with a finish from close range.

With a goal to the good, Chiefs held around 61 per cent ball possession as the clock hit the 80th-minute mark. Du Preez looked lively since his introduction and was his side’s main attacking threat for much of the half.

In seeing out the game, Chiefs neutralised Casric Stars’ advancements in the final third and held on to secure their place in the quarterfinals with a 2-1 win at home.

Kaizer Chiefs: (1) 2 (Bimenyimana 10’, Du Preez 63’)

Casric Stars: (0) 1 (Mosadi 62’)

Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen, Hlanti, Edmilson, Ngezana, Macheke (Mashiane 69’), Maart (Zwane 82’), Sithebe, Dolly, Shabalala, Mahlatsi (Du Preez 51’) , Bimenyimana (Solomons 51’)

Casric Stars: Mpakumpaku, Taukobong (Rammala 45’), Mtshweni, Gum, Tshoba, Tlholoe (Mojela 45’), Abubakar, Zwane (Khabane 81’), Malope (Sifama 66’), Milazi (Rakwena 45’), Mosadi