Stephens saves the day for Stellenbosch to send Kaizer Chiefs crashing out of Carling Knockout

KAIZER Chiefs are a club in a crisis.

The drama surrounding the recent departure of coach  Nasreddine Nabi has now escalated with Chiefs being dumped out of the Carling Knockout Cup by 10-man Stellenbosch FC 5-4 on penalties in dramatic circumstances at the DHL Stadium on Sunday.

Chiefs goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari, who was brought in for the in-form Brandon Petersen due to squad rotation, was called to be substituted moments before the penalty shootout with Bruce Bvuma on the touchline ready to come on. 

But Ntwari, in similar fashion to when former Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga infamously resisted Maurizio Sarri's attempt to substitute him late in extra time of the English Carabao Cup final, refused assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef’s call. 

The blatant act of defiance saw Bvuma return to the dugout with Ntwari taking his place in goals for the penalty shootout.

To the Rwandan international’s credit, he acrobatically dived to his right to palm away Stellenbosch FC striker Andre de Jongh’s first penalty to give Chiefs the early lead in the shootout. 

It was an advantage they held until the fifth penalty, but unfortunately for the 40 000-strong Amakhosi fans that had crammed into the former 2010 World Cup were left disappointed Tashreeq Morris’ effort was saved by Sage Stephens to give Stellenbosch a lifeline. 

Stephens, who was also a second half substitute after Oscarine Masuluke collided with Amakhosi frontman Khanyisa Mayo, stepped up again moments later when he saved Dilon Solomons’ spot kick to send the inaugural Carling Cup champions through to the next round. 

The victory will be a tremendous confidence booster for Barker’s men, especially as they were reduced to 10 men early in the second half of extra time.

Thapelo Mokobodi had already been cautioned for a mistimed challenge on the stroke of halftime for a mistimed challenge. 

With Chiefs launching a potentially dangerous attack in a bid to break the deadlock, the former Marumo Gallants midfielder committed another foul and was deservedly shown a second yellow that earned him a subsequent red card and an early shower. 

The Amakhosi tried valiantly to make the numerical advantage count with the Stellenbosch goal now under siege with crosses floating in from both flanks, but the visitors could not deliver the knockout blow as the home side held on for dear life. 

The match had originally been delayed by 30 minutes as fans were held up trying to get to Atlantic Seaboard, but they were treated to precious little chances in the regulation 90 minutes. 

It was Mayo that provided Masuluke with his biggest test of the afternoon whilst he was still on the field when the much-maligned new Chiefs striker collected a pass from Glody Lilepo before finding space on the edge of the box to unleash a powerful strike that had the 32-year-old at full stretch before the ball crashed into the far right upright. 

Neither team were able to create any clear-cut chances and were forced to shoot from distance with Chief’s eventual villain Solomons also pulling the trigger, but his shot sailed wide of the left post.