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Aces shock Free State Stars
03/05/2008 17:55 - (SA)
Pretoria - First Division Mpumalanga Black Aces shocked PSL side Free State Stars with a 1-0 Nedbank Cup semi-final victory at the Super Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday afternoon.
It was a game which saw most of the chances fall to Stars, but some wasteful finishing, coupled with some heroic defending left the door open for the first division side to pinch a goal 15 minutes into the second half and.
Playing under floodlights, and in a constant rain, Aces did however have a good start to the game and in the opening eight minutes Lindokuhle Mbatha fired over the bar and former Kaizer Chiefs striker Kabamba Musasa headed wide of the target.
But Stars soon stepped up their game and nearly took the lead in the ninth minute when Jimmy Kauleza burst down the right flank, before his sizzling shot was brilliantly saved at the near post by Michael Babale.
In the 20th minute the talented Thulasizwe Mbuyane did wonderfully to wriggle free in the box to create space for a shot, but his stabbed effort went inches wide of the upright.
Seven minutes later the visitors were presented with a perfect opportunity to take the lead when Sthembiso Ncgobo broke through on the left. Babale left his line early, leaving Ncgobo with the relatively simple task of lobbing the ball into an empty net, but his effort was well off the mark.
Ea Lla Koto continued to push forward in search of the opening goal, but were thwarted by a determined Aces rearguard.
The advent of the second half saw the Free State side continuing where they had left off before the break, but the likes of Collins Chabalala and Kauleza were unable to profit from the half chances that came their way.
Did the rest from six yards out
Given a rare opportunity to push forward in the 60th minute, the team in blue capitalised on a chance in clinical fashion when Essau Mtsweni got to the by-line down the left flank and squared the ball for Musasa, who did the rest from six yards out.
Ten minutes later Stars looked set to equalise when the ball broke to Mbuyane after a fine reflex save by Babale, but with the goal at his mercy the Stars midfielder succeeded only in blasting his 10-yard shot over the bar.
Five minutes later Gordon Gilbert came to the rescue of Aces when he cleared Chabalala's shot off the line with Babale a beaten man.
With 13 minutes to go things got worse for Stars were reduced to just 10 men after Kabamba Chintu was sent of for a reckless challenge on the edge of his area.
The remainder of the game saw Stars fail to carve out any clear-cut chances - indeed it was at the other end of the field where Mweene had to make a couple of smart saves to stop Aces from extending their lead.
There were joyous scenes at the end of the game as Aces celebrated their historical achievement, but they will soon be focussing their attention on Sunday's second semi-final at Olen Park, where Sundowns meet AmaZulu.
- SuperSport
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