Telkom Knockout Cup
Result: Polokwane City 0-3 Kaizer Chiefs
Date: 5 October 2013
Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium
Kaizer Chiefs beat Polokwane City 3-0 this evening at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, thanks to a brace from Tefu Mashamaite and a Knowledge Musona goal.
Chiefs dominated proceedings and while Polokwane City did have a few opportunities, Itumeleng Khune's goal was never really threatened.
The Amakhosi started as favourites tonight against recently promoted Polokwane City, who are still being coached by their caretaker-coach, Eduardo Langer Schoeler, after Duncan Lechesa's departure.
Chiefs started without the injured duo of Siphiwe Tshabalala and Lehlohonolo Majoro, while City were also hit with injuries, with Thapelo Tshilo, Esau Kanyenda, and Modiri Marumo all missing out.
In the third minute Reneilwe Letsholonyane had a great chance give Chiefs the lead, but Nkueni Mayela made a good save from close range, after Letsholonyane had run onto a pass into the box from Knowledge Musona out wide.
While Kaizer Chiefs dominated possession in the opening twenty minutes, few real chances were created, and Polokwane City began to see a bit of the ball.
Thabo Rakhale had a chance for Polokwane City, shooting from outside the box in the 15th minute, and forcing Itumeleng Khune to tip over.
In the 31st minute Tsepo Masilela ran onto a wayward cross but his attempted header went straight at Mayela.
Chiefs went 1-0 up in the 34th minute from a Bernard Parker corner. Mashamaite rose up well at the near post to head the ball into the net.
Mayela made a great save in the 45th minute stopping Musona from extending the lead, and at half-time the score remained 1-0.
George Lebese delivered a dangerous cross into the box in the 48th minute, but Kingston Nkhatha couldn't reach the ball and it rolled out.
Parker had a shot from outside the box in the 50th minute, but it took a deflection off a defender and went easily into Mayela's hands.
Two minutes later Lebese tried to find Musona in the box, but Kabelo Lichaba cleared for the corner. From the set piece, the ball reached Nkhatha but his shot flew just over the goal.
City had a chance in the 58th minute but Sphesilhle Nzimande's first shot hit Morgan Gould and his follow-up shot went straight into the hands of Khune.
Tsepo Masilela almost doubled the lead as he ran onto the ball in the box and chipped Mayela, but Million Mkhabela cleared the ball before it reached the goal.
In the 62nd minute substitute Puleng Tlolane tried a long range effort, when perhaps a pass was a better option, and his shot flew high and wide.
In the 66th minute Letsholonyane missed an absolute sitter as he skied the ball with an open net in front of him. Musona ran clear into the box and pulled the ball back to Lebese, who missed his shot, and the ball ran into the path of an unmarked Letsholonyane.
Mashamaite scored his and Chiefs' second, from another Parker corner in the 67th minute, this time heading in from the middle of the penalty area.
Musona made it 3-0 in the 74th minute, as he beat the off-side trap with a bending run and lobbed the ball over an advancing Mayela.
Rakhale had another opportunity after some good footwork in the 86th minute, but his shot went over, and seconds later Musona had a chance on the other end, but Mayela made the save.
Just into stoppage time, Rakhale dribbled into the Chiefs box, but instead of shooting, he tried to find a team-mate and Mashamaite was there to clear the ball.
Read: City v Chiefs In Numbers
How they started today:
Polokwane City: Nkueni Mayela, Tlou Molekwane, Prince Hlela, Million Mkhabela, Maxwell Molala, Itumeleng Motsiane, Galabgwe Moyana, Sphesihle Nzimande, Kabelo Lichaba, Thabo Rakhale, Thobani Mncwango
Kaizer Chiefs: Itumeleng Khune, Sibonsiso Gaxa, Tsepo Masilela, Morgan Gould, Tefu Mashamaite, Willard Katsande, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Bernard Parker, Knowledge Musona, George Lebese, Kingston Nkhatha
By: Soccer-Laduma
Follow us on Twitter:@Soccer_Laduma
