Lower-league Galaxy will reach for stars against Chiefs in Cup final

Second-tier club TS Galaxy stunned Golden Arrows and success-starved Kaizer Chiefs scored three late goals to oust Chippa United Saturday in dramatic South African FA Cup semi-finals.


Galaxy, who lie eighth in the 16-club second division, equalised in stoppage time before going on to win 3-1 at Arrows through a Zakhele Lepasa brace in Durban.

Chiefs, without a trophy since May 2015, trailed at Chippa after 75 minutes before Malagasy Arohasina Andrianarimanana, Bernard Parker and Zimbabwean Khama Billiat scored in a 4-2 win.

Galaxy and Chiefs will clash in Durban on May 18 for the trophy and a place in the 2019-2020 CAF Confederation Cup, the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.

The winners will also become seven million rand ($500,000/450,000 euro) richer — the biggest prize in an African domestic cup competition.

Galaxy were no-hopers when the round-of-32 kicked off three months ago but, to the amazement of South African pundits, they are in the final after four consecutive away victories.

Trailing to a second-half penalty converted by Zimbabwean Knox Mutizwa for Arrows, the lower-league outfit levelled on 92 minutes when Sandile Zuke conceded a headed own-goal.

Substitute Lepasa shrugged off recent poor form to net twice in the second half of extra time and secure a place in the final for the club from the eastern Mpumalanga province.

– ‘Arrogant football’ –

“We got better as the match progressed and what I loved was the arrogant, pure South African football we played during extra time,” said Galaxy coach Dan Malesela.

“Chiefs will be overwhelming favourites to win the final, but I have a message for them: we want the gold medals, not the silver ones.”

A brilliant Billiat goal with three minutes remaining sealed the progress of Chiefs to the title decider after a thriller watched by a 30,000 crowd in Port Elizabeth.

As a loose ball trickled toward the Zimbabwean outside the box, he unleashed an unstoppable shot that flew past veteran goalkeeper Mbongeni Mzimela.

After deservedly leading 1-0 at half-time through a soft Dumisani Zuma goal after a Mzimela clanger, Chiefs conceded two goals within six minutes.

Both came after crosses from the right with Andile Mbenyane levelling off a looping header and Lerato Manzini poking the ball past Bruce Bvuma for a shock lead.

Chiefs reacted by delivering their best football in a largely disappointing season with Andrianarimanana equalising and Parker putting them ahead before Billiat struck.

“We fully deserved the win and I thought two of our Zimbabweans, Khama Billiat and captain Willard Katsande, were outstanding,” said Chiefs’ German coach Ernst Middendorp.

“Andrianarimanana is a quality footballer and getting better with each game. He can shoot from distance, take on and beat opponents and pass intelligently.”

For more news your way

Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.