Kaizer Chiefs are through to the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals after a 2-1 victory over Stellenbosch FC  at the Moses Mabihda Stadium on Saturday night.

Chiefs, who are on a desperate search for silverware, opened the scoring on 27 minutes. After finding it difficult to break down Steve Barker’s men in open play, the Glamour Boys took the lead through a set-piece. A well worked free kick resulted in a corner kick which Simphiwe Shabalala delivered with pin point accuracy to find the head of Eric Mathoho, 1-0 Chiefs.

Steve Komphela’s team then had two great chances to double their lead, first Shabalala fired over from just inside the box and then Bernard Parker’s volley was well saved by Washington Arubi in the Stellenbosch goal.

With the score at 1-0 at the break, Chiefs played within themselves for much of the first half.

The Amakhosi then looked to open up in the second half and got their second goal 64 minutes in. A long throw was flicked into the box and Leonardo Castro was the quickest to react. The striker turned his man, showing great strength, and then rifled a venomous volley past the goalkeeper, 2-0 Chiefs.

Stellenbosch defender, Alan Robertson, set up a nervy last 15 minutes for Komphela and his men when he pulled a goal back on 76 minutes. A well taken corner kick into the front post was met by Robertson whose glancing header left Chiefs goalkeeper, Itumeleng Khune, with no chance.

Neither side could add to the score line as Chiefs were happy to shut up shop and take the result. Not the prettiest of performances by the Amakhosi but they got the job done and are ultimately through to the quarter-finals of the Nedbank Cup.

Picture: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix