Cosmos win dramatic tie

Stars lead into the 122nd minutes of the game after a free-kick from Patrick Malokase, but El-Hadj Samb netted a dramatic late equalizer with virtually the final kick of the game. They then held their nerve to win the shoot-out.

Veteran striker Alton Meireng found himself one-on-one with Stars keeper Jackson Mabokgwane after receiving a perfect through pass which had split the Dikwena defence, but he couldn’t score as Jackson Mabokgwane came to his team’s rescue.

Stars’ Namibian striker Henrico Botes was then on the receiving end of a cross from the left wing, but saw his header tipped over the crossbar by Cosmos keeper Avril Phali.

With two minutes of regulation time left to play, Platinum Stars could have won when second half substitute Patrick Malokase failed to connect with the ball from the rightwing and couldn’t capitalise in the six-yard box when a touch could have sent the ball into the net for a goal.

Seven minutes into extra-time, Malokase would make amends for the earlier missed opportunity.

Stars earned a set-piece from outside the box and the on-loan Orlando Pirates man hit a right footed curling shot that beat the Cosmos keeper to make it 1-0 after 97 minutes.

In the 105th minute, Meireng was guilty of another missed opportunity when he received a good cross from the left wing from Katlego Loke, but he missed the ball when the Stars keeper was at his mercy.

But Cosmos equalized with the last kick of the game. El-Hadji Samb scored from close-range in the 121st minute to take the match into the dreaded penalty shootout.

Phali then saved the spot-kicks of Mduduzi Nyanda and Elias Ngwepe to hand Cosmos a 4-3 shootout win.