Chiefs thrash Bucs to take TKO honours

| Monday December 6, 2010 00:00

Former Free State Stars' striker Sthembiso Ngcobo was the hero for the Amakhosi, completing a brace with a goal in each half, while Siphiwe Tshabalala put the cherry on top with the final score of the game to make it 3-0.

After Chiefs had dominated the Buccaneers in the teams' Absa Premiership meeting in mid-November, few expected the Telkom Knockout final to be as similarly one-sided. However, Vladimir Vermezovic's team were superior from the start to finish and deservedly claimed a comprehensive win.

The last thing Pirates would have wanted was to concede an early goal, as in the 3-1 league defeat to Chiefs last month. However, that was exactly what they did, allowing Sthembiso Ngcobo to open the scoring in the 11th minute.

An unnecessary back-pass from Robyn Johannes put Moeneeb Josephs under pressure and the goalkeeper's attempted clearance went only as far as Ngcobo, who was positioned just outside the box.

The striker pushed the ball past a Pirates' defender and fired a low shot into the back of the net to hand Amakhosi an early advantage.

Bucs couldn't match their foes for pace and incisiveness of passing, but they certainly looked dangerous from set piece situations. Twice in the first half, Happy Jele was able to get away headers on goal from corner kicks - in the first instance it took a block from Punch Masenamela to get it away and the second time saw Itumeleng Khune make an acrobatic save.

Chiefs so very nearly made it 2-0 in the 40th minute, with Josta Dladla heading mere inches over the target after a sweeping move had opened up space for Ngcobo to fire in a cross from the right flank.

Pirates' coach Ruud Krol didn't wait long into the second half to make changes, sending on Katlego Mashego and Tlou Segolela before the hour mark had rung up.

Yet on 65 minutes it was Chiefs' supporters who were celebrating a second goal. Again it was Ngcobo who rippled the back of the net, spearing a header beyond Josephs after meeting Masenamela's perfectly weighted cross from the left flank.

And eight minutes later, any doubt as to where the Telkom Knockout trophy was heading came to an end when Amakhosi made it 3-0. It was another easy-on-the-eye move from the team in gold and black and Siphiwe Tshabalala ended it off with a fierce low shot from a tight angle that flashed past a helpless Josephs.

Orlando Pirates 0 Kaizer Chiefs (1) 3 (Ngcobo 11' 65', Tshabalala 73')

Pirates: (4-4-2) Josephs; Jele, Mahamutsa, Johannes, Cloete; Mabalane, Jali (Segolela 60'), Ngobeni, Klate (Manyisa 74'); Mbuyane, Otorogu (Mashego 56')

Chiefs: (4-4-2) Khune; Tau, Nahayo, Sweswe, Masenamela; Dladla, Nengomasha, Letsholonyane, Tshabalala (Nale 90+1'); Ngcobo (Yende 84'), Musona (Motaung Jr 89')

Referee: Victor HlungwaniCautions: Mahamutsa, Cloete; Ngcobo.