Ten-man Milford FC have embarrassed Kaizer Chiefs in the Last 32 of the Nedbank Cup with a 5-4 win on penalties after a 0-0 draw over 120 minutes at the FNB Stadium on Sunday evening.
The Motsepe Foundation Championship club (who have won just once away from home this season, are a full 22 places below the Amakhosi on the league ladder, just one point above the relegation zone in their division, and ended the game a man short) frustrated their DStv Premiership opponents through two hours of football, with goalkeeper Siphamandla Hleza a hero for several excellent saves.
The Soweto giants are a record 13-time winners of the Nedbank Cup, but have now exited the tournament at the Last 32 round in three of the last four seasons – with this defeat also ending their hopes of breaking their long trophy drought (which stretches back to 2015) before the end of the 2023-24 season.
Chiefs were inches away from claiming the lead on five minutes when Christian Saile did great work down the right before playing a teasing ball across the six-yard box – Ashley Du Preez arrived to meet it, but could only hit the frame of the goal with his effort on the stretch.
That was the Amakhosi’s best chance of the first half, though they created several more opportunities to break the deadlock which they failed to capitalise on. The likes of Edson Castillo, Mduduzi Shabalala and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo were all guilty of failing to find the net when given the chance to do so.
Milford offered little threat in attack and opted for a double change at the start of the second half, with Skhumbuzo Siyaya and Bulelani Sigomoshe introduced, though Chiefs continued to pose more of a threat and Castillo directed an effort just wide within a minute of the restart.
On the stroke of the hour mark, Chiefs had another great chance, as Saile crossed from the right to pick out Shabalala, but his effort was well saved by Hleza – with Ngcobo unable to capitalise on the rebound.
Seconds later Castillo headed off target when unmarked in the box, as the Soweto giants continued to be frustrated, and they quickly opted for a triple change which brought about the introductions of Pule Mmodi, Ranga Chivaviro and Mfundo Vilakazi.
Debutant Vilakazi had the first clear chance of the subs, directing Du Preez’s cross goalward on 73 minutes, but his effort was straight at Hleza.
The Milford ‘keeper then made an outstanding save on 80 minutes, springing up to tip a fiercely struck effort from Edmilson Dove over the crossbar, and a short while later he deflected a Chivaviro effort on the frame of his goal before recovering to collect the loose ball.
Extra time was called for and Chiefs had the chance to break through after a somewhat soft penalty for a hand-ball by the otherwise excellent Milford defender Unathi Somabhele. Chivaviro took the 105th minute penalty but saw his effort brilliantly saved by Hleza.
The second half of extra time saw Milford reduced to 10 men when Vusumuzi Mthabela was sent off for a second bookable offence, but they were still able to see out the remainder of the game to take the tie to penalties.