Royal AM advanced to the Nedbank Cup round of 16 after defeating Cape Town City via the penalty shoot-out on Sunday night.
Nedbank Cup
Result: Cape Town City 0 (3)- (4) 0 Royal AM
Date: 12 February 2023
Venue: DHL Stadium
The Citizens made a number of changes following their defeat against SuperSport United, as goalkeeper Bongani Mpandle made his debut alongside recalls for the likes of Brice Ambina, Juan Zapata and Jaedin Rhodes got only his second start, while Lesego Manganyi replaced Lingwati for the visitors.
The sides sized each other up for a while in the early stages with no threatening attacks until the 23rd minute after Tebogo Potsane saw his shot in the box come off the post.
The match came to life after that as Mduduzi Mdantsane also had a chance for City just after the half-hour mark but guided his shot in the box narrowly wide.
However, neither side could take the game by the scruff of the neck in the latter phase of the first stanza and improvements in the last third were needed coming from the break.
That's exactly what happened just after the interval, as Shadrack Kobedi came close to breaking the deadlock for the visitors with a shot that was parried off the line by Mpandle.
That passage of play proved to be an isolated attacking threat as the sides returned to cautious approaches but the intention to get the upper hand going forward was there, as the Citizens introduced Taahir Goedeman just after the hour-mark.
As for Thwihli Thwahla, they also looked to get on the front foot with 21 minutes to go after they brought on strikers Ruzaigh Gamildien and Sedwyn George for tactical and rotation purposes.
Eric Tinkler's charges had the momentum in the closing stages and Goedeman had a big chance in stoppage time after he latched onto a through ball in the box but his shot lacked power and was smothered by goalkeeper Hugo Nyame, as extra-time was required.
The game lacked clear-cut opportunities in the first period of extra-time and City added fresh legs in their front line in the half-time of extra-time as Khanyisa Mayo and Luke Daniels entered the park.
Royal AM defended deep in their own half and made their intentions clear that they would prefer penalties with a defensive change in the dying minutes as Tshepo Rikhotso replaced the injured Kabelo Mahlasela.
With the game on the edge, Mayo almost sealed it for City in the tail end with a shot that rattled the crossbar and the sides eventually went to penalties.
Nyame was the hero for Royal AM in the penalty shoot-out after he saved Lorenzo Gordinho and Mayo's penalties to inspire Thwihli Thwahla to a 4-3 win.
Here's how they lined up:
Cape Town City: Mpandle, Mkhize, Cupido, Fielies, Lakay, Mokhouane, Mdantsane, Ambina, Rhodes, Darwin, Zapata
Subs: Keet, Mokeke, Kajally, Mayo, Van Heerden, Gordinho, Nodada, Goedeman, Daniels.
Royal AM: Nyame, Dube, Sikakane, Matlaba, Manganyi, Kobedi, Mahlasela, Pelembe, Mogaila, Potsana, Sera
Subs: Ngcobo, Lingwati, Rikhotso, Msomi, Masuku, George, Macuphu, Magaqa, Gamildien
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