Debut Delight For Saile As Ndlovu’s Error Gives Kaizer Chiefs The Edge Over Maritzburg United

Debut Delight For Saile As Ndlovu’s Error Gives Kaizer Chiefs The Edge Over Maritzburg United

Maritzburg United’s guardian of the net, King Ndlovu, had a night to forget as Kaizer Chiefs newbie Christian Saile Basomboli netted his first goal in style.

The goalkeeping gaffa came during a heated battle in the Nedbank Cup, where Ndlovu failed to defend his kingdom from a deadly header by Zitha Kwinika.

The cross was too much for the goalie to handle, and he let the ball slip through his fingers, gifting Basomboli the chance to tap it in and give the Amakhosi the lead in extra time.

Substitute Happy Mashiane played his part, charging towards the goal with the ball and lofting it towards the net.

Kwinika rose to the challenge, heading it towards the target, only for Ndlovu to drop the ball and hand Basomboli the easy goal. All hail the new goal-scorer of Kaizer Chiefs.

It was the first goal for Saile who had made life difficult for the Maritzburg defence with his pace and power in what was his maiden start for the Glamour Boys.

Kaizer Chiefs are through to the round of 16 in the Nedbank Cup for the first time in three years, thanks to a goalkeeping blunder from Maritzburg United’s King Ndlovu.

Substitute Happy Mashiane set up Christian Saile Basomboli for an easy tap-in, and Ashley du Preez added a second with a perfectly-placed header from Mashiane’s cross.

It wasn’t all easy for the Amakhosi, as they faced a 10-man Maritzburg team for the second straight match following Travis Graham’s red card.

But the introduction of Mashiane and Kgaogelo Sekgota proved to be the heroes of the game as they broke the deadlock in the extra-time to give amakhosi a win.

Ndlovu was given a rare start by Maritzburg coach Fadlu Davids and put in a solid performance, but one blunder overshadowed it all.

A mishandled cross from Zitha Kwinika gave Saile the opening goal and sealed Ndlovu’s fate as the goat of the game.

This win keeps Kaizer Chiefs on track for a trophy this season, after missing out on the MTN8 which was won by Orlando Pirates and with Mamelodi Sundowns running away with the PSL.

But, Coach Arthur Zwane will be hoping his forwards can step up and convert their chances, instead of relying on extra-time to bail them out.

Maritzburg coach Fadlu Davids may have thought he was handing Ndlovu a shot at redemption, but all the great saves were erased with one misplay.

And, Kaizer Chiefs are now one step closer to silverware, but they’ll need to sharpen their shooting boots if they want to bring home the prize.