Chippa United advanced to the Nedbank Cup round of 16 after defeating Polokwane City on penalties on Tuesday night.
Nedbank Cup
Result: Polokwane City 1 (1)-(3) 1 Chippa United
Date: 14 February 2023
Venue: Old Peter Mokaba Stadium
Chippa made three changes from their defeat to Stellenbosch, as former Orlando Pirates midfielder Meshack Maphangule was handed his "second" debut, while goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali and Abdi Banda were recalled.
The game got off to a frantic start as Polokwane grabbed the lead within the first three minutes after a mistake at the back by the Chilli Boys led to Francis Baloyi finding the back of the net with a strike in the box.
City also had their jitters in defence, as Morgan Mammila's charges found the equaliser on 11 minutes after Bulelani Nikani bundled the ball into his own goal following Thabiso Lebitso's shot at the near post.
Rise and Shine took the game to Chippa after that and Mokibelo Ramabu should have restored their lead on the half-hour mark after he was teed up by Khomotjo Lekoloane but he skied his shot over the crossbar with the net gaping.
The visitors increased their pace towards the end of the first stanza and had another chance after Etiosa Ighodaro saw his parried uncomfortably away by goalkeeper Manuel Sapunga.
The Chilli Boys made a tactical change at halftime as Sergio Kammies replaced Maphangule but the game remained on the balance in the early stages of the second stanza, with both sides having chances but lacking the finishing touches.
Duncan Lechesa's troops absorbed the pressure and looked for chance on transitions as Puleng Marema nearly gave his side the lead with 20 minutes left after unleashing a first-time shot at the near post that was tipped over the crossbar by Nwabali.
City gained more confidence in the closing stages as they put Chippa under pressure, with Marema going close to snatching the winner seven minutes before time with a dipping free-kick from the edge of the box that was acrobatically parried away by Nwabali, sending the clash to extra-time.
Fresh legs were also required from both sides heading into extra-time and they both went for experience, as former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Lucky Baloyi was handed his debut for City in place of Lekoloane while Chippa brought on Andile Mbenyane for Ronaldo Maarman.
However, the game only came to life in the second period of extra-time as Marema was denied once more by Nwabali and at the other end Sapunga kept out a goal-bound header by Elmo Kambindu from a cross by Siphesihle Mkhize.
The penalty shoot-out was required to settle the tie, as Chippa tiumphed 3-1 with Mbenyane netting the winner after Nwabali saved two spot-kicks for the Chilli Boys.
Here's how they lined up:
Polokwane City: Sapunga, Matuludi, Ndlovu, Nkaki, Nikaki, Maphangule, Ramabu, Lekoloane, Baloyi, Marema, Nana.
Subs:Mathebula, Zwane, Baloyi, Mhlongo, Mokate, Buthelezi, Goovadia, Ntsoane, Thuto.
Chippa United: Nwabali, Mdunyelwa, Ntsabo, Banda, Mkhize, Maarman, Mathiane, Konqobe, Maphangule, Lebitso, Ighodaro
Subs: Kazapua, Chabalala, Luthuli, Poggenpoel, Mini, Kambindu, Mbenyane, Pfumbidzai, Kammies
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
