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Stellenbosch 2-2 Maritzburg United (4-5 pens): Maritzburg United stun Stellenbosch
The Team of Choice is through to the next stage after beating Stellies on penalties
Following a 2-2 draw in the 90 minutes, Maritzburg United reached the next round of the Nedbank Cup when they beat Stellenbosch 5-4 on penalties on Friday night at Athlone Stadium.
Stellies broke the deadlock in the seventh minute through midfielder Mpho Matsi who capitalized on goalkeeper Bongani Mpandle’s error.
The 27-year-old keeper attempted to hold the ball but the former University of Pretoria midfielder was quick to close the space before knocking the ball into the net.
After 20 minutes of action, Tebogo Tlolane was fouled in the penalty and the referee did not hesitate to point to the spot handing a penalty to the Team of Choice.
Thabiso Kutumela sent goalkeeper Boy De Jong the wrong way to level the spoils in the 22nd minute but the hosts regained the ball possession as they probed for their lead.
In their quest to search for an immediate goal, the Cape Winelands outfit made it 2-1 through Lelethu Skelem who ensured the visitors regained their lead in the 26th minute when he pounced on a shot from close range.
The KwaZulu-Natal midlands side struggled to handle Ovidy Karuru on the right-wing as he managed to break free and set up Ryan Moon, but the former Kaizer Chiefs striker’s header was blocked by Mpandle on the goal line.
Right on the stroke of half time, Kutumela completed his brace beating De Jong on the far post, ensuring both sides wet to the tunnel deadlocked at 2-2.
Coach Steve Barker’s troops came back from the tunnel and showed a sense of urgency as they looked to press and score their third goal, but they were not clinical upfront.
Winger Yusuf Jappie came on for Dan Morgan in the second stanza and made an immediate impact with his pinpoint crosses on the left flank but Jeremy Brockie failed to hit the target in the 57th minute as his effort went wide off De Jong’s right corner.
Coach Eric Tinkler pushed his men to keep pushing forward through Jappie and Brockie, but the New Zealand international saw his acrobatic shot sailing wide towards the 80th minute.
Tinkler decided to rest Brockie for Clive Augusto but the Zimbabwe international could not make trouble the hosts’ defence as the clash went into extra time.
A lack of chances in the opening half of extra time forced Tinkler to relieve Phumlani Ntshangase of midfield duties and introduced Bandile Shandu, yet they could not find the back of the net.
However, substitute Granwald Scott nearly made it 3-2 in the resumption of the second half when his curler went inches wide from Mpandle’s left corner.
Jappie showed his class on the far left when he beat his marker but his attempt to beat skipper Robyn Johannes wasn’t successful as the winger fell on the box looking for a penalty.
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However, the visitors needed penalties to ensure they reached the next stage of the competition as they clinched a 5-4 win from sudden death.
Iqraam Rayners, Johannes, Scott, De Jong all scored but Mobbie, Matsi, and Nathan Sinkala missed their penalties kicks.
For the visiting side, it was Siyanda Xulu, Jappie, Augusto, Claasen, and Mngonyama who netted whilst Kutumela and Timm missed his spot-kicks.
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