Kaizer Chiefs dumped out of CAF Confederation Cup

Kaizer Chiefs are out of the CAF Confederation Cup after suffering a 3-2 loss on post-match penalties to Zambian outfit Red Arrows.

Chiefs won the second leg match 1-0 thanks to Bradley Cross’ header to tie the game 1-1 on aggregate but missed a host of opportunities before losing 3-2 in the shootouts to exit the competition at the preliminary round.

Chiefs had a couple of good opportunities in the first half which they wasted while the Zambian club also failed to convert on two occasions.

Carrying a 1-0 lead from the first leg, Red Arrows nearly added to their advantage inside seven minutes as Bruce Bvuma had to make a good save to keep Chiefs in the game, while three minutes later, the Soweto giants missed their best chance of the opening 45 minutes.

Chiefs’ persistence finally pays off

Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Thulani Mabaso shoots during a match against Red Arrows. Image: Kaizer Chiefs

Pule Mmodi started a good move forward, passing the ball to Wandile Duba, who threaded a defence-splitting pass that fell to Thulani Mabaso, but the young midfielder hit his shot directly at the goalkeeper.

In the 16^th minute, Red Arrows had an opportunity when Ackim Mumba nearly squeezed in from a low shot after Chiefs failed to clear well from a corner.

Both sides huffed and puffed until the 41^st minute when Mmodi missed from close range. Sibongiseni Mthethwa had done well to beat two of his markers before floating in a good cross and the ball was met by Mmodi, free in the box, but he headed directly at Red Arrows goalkeeper Charles Kalumba.

After the break, both sides still found it hard to breach each other’s defence until a well-taken set-piece from Chiefs broke the deadlock. From a 65^th minute freekick, Mfundo Vilakazi brought in a delicious ball which was headed in by Bradley Cross after the Chiefs left-back rose highest to draw the tie level.

Amakhosi miss big chances to win it

That wiped out Arrows’ advantage as the tie was left on an aggregate of 1-1 but the Glamour Boys needed a second goal to secure passage into the group stages.

They nearly got it with 12 minutes to go when Vilakazi did a good job on the right wing, beating three players with beautiful skill, to lay it on the plate for Mduduzi Shabalala who failed to find the target, firing over the bar instead.

Mduduzi Shabalala of Kaizer Chiefs playing against Red Arrows. Image: Kaizer Chiefs

Seven minutes from time, Shabalala missed another big chance when substitute Ethan Chislett put him through on goal with a good ball but he somehow failed to beat Kalumba, who made himself big to close the angles and deny him.

Shootout heartbreak for Glamour Boys

Shortly after, Chislett set up another substitute Asanele Velebayi but the winger shot over the bar from just outside the box.

With no further goals at full-time, the match had to be decided on penalties and it is from here that Chiefs met their waterloo as they lost 3-2 from the shootouts.

Red Arrows scored three penalties while Lebohang Maboe, Reeve Frosler and Ethan Chislett missed their kicks in between Mduduzi Shabalala and Vilakazi’s converted spot-kicks.