Kaizer Chiefs booked their place in the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup, with a resounding 4-0 win over Black Leopards at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday night.

Striker Lehlohonolo Majoro scored all four of his side’s goals, netting a 16-minute hat-trick in the first half before completing his quadruple with another strike in the early stages of the second stanza.

Amakhosi opened the scoring nine minutes in as Siphiwe Tshabalala picked up the ball in the midfield before playing a great reverse pass to put Lehlohonolo Majoro on target – the striker coolly finished with a low, left-footed finish. Three minutes later it was 2-0, as Tshabalala again assisted Majoro in scoring, playing in a square pass from the left of the penalty area that the former AmaZulu player sent home from close range.

Tshabalala played a role in Majoro’s hat-trick goal on the stroke of 16 minutes, playing in a wicked in-swinging free kick that was flicked on by Lincoln Zvasiya, half-stopped by Leopards goalkeeper Azwindini Maphaha and finally tucked home on the rebound by Majoro.

The 25-year-old striker’s treble was one of the fastest hat-tricks in South African football history and the first by a Chiefs player since his teammate Kaizer Motaung Jr scored three in a 4-0 win over Bloemfontein Celtic in a league game in March 2007.

After establishing a 3-0 lead so early on, Amakhosi took their foot off the pedal somewhat, though Leopards created only one clear chance: striker David Zulu dribbled his way through the Chiefs backline in injury time at the end of the first half, but he was unable to beat goalkeeper Arthur Bartman.

Majoro put the game beyond doubt with his fourth goal in the seventh minute of the second half, running onto a pass from Bernard Parker before shooting over Maphaha. The striker was substituted to a huge round of applause three minutes later, with Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic seemingly showing mercy on Leopards with the change.

Both sides had chances in the remainder of the game, but no further goals were scored. Leopards will have a big task on their hands to try and regain their confidence ahead of the teams’ rematch in a league encounter on Tuesday evening. - BackpageTxt