Posted in News on Aug 29, 2006.
On Tuesday evening it was a five minute walk from their base at the Universidad hotel in Albecete to the Stadium, an even easier task than the walk to the stadium was the equation that all they needed to progress to the ¼ Finals was a draw against Portuguese team Benfica. The only previous meeting between Chiefs and Benfica was back in 1995 when The Amakhosi first team defeated Benfica by a goal to nil to record Chiefs first ever victory over a European team, since South Africa’s reentry into international soccer.
History was to repeat itself on Tuesday evening as Chiefs recorded another victory over the Eagles of Lisbon with a 2-1 score line, though it must be said that the young Chiefs team did not make life easy for themselves early on in the game against Benfica. As it was Benfica the team who had lost their previous two Group Games who took the lead mid way through the first half some what against the run of play, Chiefs got back on level terms just before half time as Bamuzo Gololo struck to bring parity to the game. With the scores level at half time it was all to play for in the second half and Timothy Nkosi confirmed The Amakhosi’s passage to the next round with a well executed goal a few minutes into the second half.
Chiefs next assignment will be against Group 1 runners up Real Madrid in Almansa on Wednesday, Ryder Mofokeng will be hoping for a repeat performance from his team in Almansa, in their previous game there they defeated Mexican side Pumas UNAM 3-1 on Sunday evening.
The Amakhosi along with Pumas UNAM who defeated Valencia by four goals to nil in their final group match on Monday evening, will progress to the ¼ Finals. Where as the young Chiefs will face up to the might of the young Galacticos in the form of Real Madrid, there will be a clash of the Americas for Pumas UNAM as they will meet Argentinean team Boca Juniors next.
