CAF Confederation Cup
Result: Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 Elgeco Plus
Date: 15 December 2018
Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium
Kaizer Chiefs took control of their CAF Confederation Cup first round tie after defeating Elgeco Plus 3-0 in the first leg on Saturday evening.
Virgil Vries maintained his spot between the sticks as Itumeleng Khune remains out, while Daniel Cardoso was drafted into the right-back slot.
Mario Booysen almost snatched an early lead for Amakhosi in the second minute of the encounter after he was picked out in the box following a looping cross but his low volley was saved by the Elgeco goalkeeper.
Khama Billiat should have opened the scoring for Ernst Middendorp's charges in the 16th minute after going through on the right side of the box, although he was unable to find the back of the net with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Chiefs dominated the possession for most of the first half, although the visitors did cause a bit of a threat on the counter.
However, Philani Zulu broke the deadlock for the Soweto giants in the 32nd minute with a clinical left-footed strike that sailed into the roof of the net.
Middendorp's troops pushed for a second goal in the remaining stages of the half, but they were let down by their decision-making in the final third.
The hosts were finding gaps behind the visitors defence in the opening stages of the second half but their final ball was lacking quality. Zulu nearly doubled the lead for the hosts in the 74th minute with half-volley from inside the box that was swallowed by the Elgeco shot-stopper after some good combinations around the box. Chiefs upped their tempo in the last ten minutes looking to bag more goals ahead of the second leg. The hosts were rewarded in the 86th minute when Leonardo Castro made it 2-0 with a clinical curling effort from the centre of the box after he was setup by Billiat. Castro made it 3-0 for the hosts in stoppage time from the penalty spot after Dumisani Zuma was brought down inside the box. The Soweto giants now take a healthy 3-0 lead into next week's second leg encounter. Here's how they lined up: Chiefs: Vries, Cardoso, Walusimbi (Ntshangase 46'), Booysen, Hadebe, Katsande, Andrianarimanana (Parker 57'), Manyama, Zulu, Billiat (Zuma 88'), Castro.Subs: Bvuma, Ekstein, Parker, Ntiya-Ntiya, Mahlasela, Ntshangase, Zuma.
