JOHANNESBURG — Kaizer Chiefs booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Nedbank Cup with a resounding 4-0 win over Black Leopards at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday night.
Lehlohonolo Majoro scored all four of his team’s goals; netting a 16-minute hat-trick in the first half before completing his quadruple with another strike in the early stages of the second stanza.
Amakhosi join Free State Stars, AmaZulu, Santos, Mamelodi Sundowns and Maritzburg United in Monday’s quarter-final draw. The final two slots will be decided in Sunday’s games between Jomo Cosmos and Platinum Stars, as well as United FC and SuperSport United.
Amakhosi opened the scoring on nine minutes, as Siphiwe Tshabalala picked up the ball in midfield before playing a great reverse pass to put Lehlohonolo Majoro in on goal — the striker coolly finished with a low left-footed finish.
Three minutes later it was 2-0, as Tshabalala again assisted for Majoro to score, playing in a square pass from the left of the penalty area the former AmaZulu player poked home from close range.
Tshabalala played a role in Majoro’s hat-trick goal on 16 minutes, playing in a wicked in-swinging free-kick that was flicked-on by Lincoln Zvasiya, half-stopped by goalkeeper Azwindini Maphaha and finally tucked home on the rebound by Majoro.
The 25-year-old striker’s treble was one of the fastest hat-tricks in South African football history and the first by a Chiefs player since his teammate Kaizer Motaung (Jr) scored three in a 4-0 win over Bloemfontein Celtic in a league game in March 2007.
After establishing a 3-0 lead so early on, Amakhosi took their foot off the pedal somewhat, though Leopards created only one clear chance; striker David Zulu dribbled his way through the Chiefs backline in injury time at the end of the first half, but he was unable to beat goalkeeper Arthur Bartman. Majoro put the game beyond doubt with his fourth goal in the seventh minute of the second half, running onto a pass from Bernard Parker before shooting over Maphaha. The striker was substituted to a huge round of applause three minutes later.
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Both teams had chances in the remainder of the game, but no further goals were scored. Leopards will have a big task on their hands to try and regain their confidence ahead of the teams’ rematch in a league encounter tonight. — Kick Off
