The visiting Amakhosi supporters had to endure eight minutes of tension until Jabu Pule fired in a loose ball in the 82nd minute with Orwin Castel off his line as he tried to stop Kenny Niemach.

The equaliser seemed to have inspired Chiefs, who were still reeling from their shock 2-1 league defeat by Ajax Cape Town in midweek.

As the match wore on Chiefs got better and their efforts were rewarded in the 84th minute as Permall, who came on for Stanton Fredericks in the 78th minute, headed Chiefs into the lead.

Following a slow start to their Coca-Cola Cup quarterfinal match at Chatsworth, both Rangers and Chiefs went into the break with the scored tied at 0-0.

The visitors dominated play in the first half but Rangers never looked to be in any danger as Amakhosi struggled to make their way to Castel’s area.

Rangers, yet to beat Chiefs since the start of the Castle Premiership, were on a high following their 2-1 win against AmaZulu, which was a follow-up to their impressive 4-0 hammering of SuperSport United.

But the Maulers, mindful of their past record against Chiefs, threw caution into the wind as they carefully planned their attacks while keeping their defence tight.

Rangers led through their top marksman Gilbert Mushangazhike, who stunned the Amakhosi supporters with his low overhead shot in the 73rd minute. The Zimbabwean international might have thought he had finally broken the Chiefs duck but the thought appeared farfetched when the Naturena side finally pulled a goal back through Pule.

The hero's status, which was about to be imposed on Mushangazhike quickly bestowed on Permall - the man who spent more time warming the bench wondering if he would ever get a chance.

Permall, who spent most of his early days at Chiefs nursing an injury, made his debut against former club Ajax in the 2-1 defeat. The Rangers victory will probably rank amongst his best games.

Not only did Permall help Amakhosi avoid defeat but gallantly scored two brilliant goals to steer his new side to the semifinals of the Coca-Cola Cup.

Goalkeeper and captain Brian Baloyi, who was voted as man of the match, had a couple of anxious moments as he tried to contain the Rangers attack.

Baloyi made a brilliant save in the 20th minute to deny Ishmael Maluleke following a run between Mushangazhike and Pogiso Mokotjo. Fifteen minutes later Baloyi was tested again as he cleared Japhet Zwane’s tantalising cross, earmarked for Mushangazhike.

Chiefs will now join Jomo Cosmos in the last four. Jomo Sono’s men stormed to a 5-1 victory against a hapless SuperSport United on Saturday.

The other quarterfinal match between Sundowns and Free State Stars will be played on Wednesday while Santos and Golden Arrows will play at a date and venue yet to be finalised.

Teams:

Manning Rangers: Orwin Castel, Helder Muinga, Bradley Muir, Clinton Larsen (Michael Shata 90), Sipho Ndzuzo, Pogiso Mokotjo (Mimi Radebe 69), Liswa Nduti, Nkipitheni Matombo, Japhet Zwane, Ishmael Maluleke (Fadlu Davids 81), Gilbert Mushangazhike.

Kaizer Chiefs: Brian Baloyi, Patrick Mabedi, Gary Goldstone (Jossias Macamo 46), Nhlanhla Kubeka, Cyril Nzama, Patrick Mbuthu, Arthur Zwane, Stanton Fredericks (Shaun Permall 78), Jabu Pule, Justice Sithole (Phumlani Mkhize 83), Kenny Niemach.

Referee: Daniel Bennett.