Paez: We want to win this cup

Cape Town - A late brace from Gustavo Paez earned Kaizer Chiefs a 2-1 win over a 10-man Acornbush United side in a Nedbank Cup last 16 clash at the Kabokweni Stadium on Sunday.

"This is an important win for the club," reflects on the club’s website.

"We realized that time was not on our side as the game progressed, we had to do something different to win this match."

Although Chiefs started strongly and had chances on goal in the first-half, the home side grew in confidence as proceedings progressed and threatened the visitors a couple of times before taking the lead just before the break.

It looked as if the rookies were going to hold off Chiefs as they threw bodies back in defence, but Paez had other ideas with two quality strikes.

“The coach made the necessary changes when we were trailing,” the Venezuelan striker comments on his introduction as well as those of Hendrick Ekstein and William Twala.

“And that became the turning point for us.” 

Paez also pointed out a few technical aspects of the sold out match played at Kabokweni Stadium.

“The condition of the pitch made playing good football difficult. The pitch was hard and the heat was virtually unbearable," said Paez.

Amakhosi took full command of matters after the break and the home side found themselves having to repel wave upon wave of Chiefs attacks, but their defence held firm as they ensured there were very few clear-cut chances.

Chiefs' persistence, however, was to pay dividends 12 minutes before the end of regulation time when Paez sent a beautiful half volley across the face of goal and into the corner of the net.

After having had to make a couple of crucial saves, there was little Masuku could do when Paez thumped in a volley from close range at the far post from Bernard Parker's cross.

"We didn’t want to go to extra time and the penalties, because that would have been a lotto scenario," said 

"We want to win this cup. However, we take it step by step and one game at the time."