Sekhukhune United booked a spot in the Nedbank Cup last 16 defeating Highlands Park on penalties at Dobsonville Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Babina Noko debuted goalkeeper Tokollo Makgoloane and granted the returning Linda Mntambo a start as well as the captain’s armband, while Highlands featured veteran Tapuwa Kapini in goal.
Makgoloane was in the thick of things in the earlier stages where he had to come off his line to stop the host making in-roads towards the back of the net.
Sekhukhune regained confidence later on in the half and pushed the host in their own half through penetrations from the middle, wide and centre by Jamie Webber in particular.
Babina Noko made a double substitution after halftime, as Nyiko Mobbie came on for Katlego Mkhabela and Tshepo Rikhotso stepped on for Daniel Cardoso.
Sekhukhune continued to launch openings following the break through a succession of headers by Tresor Tshibwabwa, but he went wide in both instances.
At the other end, Highlands remained courageous and entered the opposing box with relative ease before seeing a first-time shot from Tobani Jafta go wide.
Highlands should’ve been ahead with a glancing header towards the far post by Refentse Mphele, but he dragged wide after meeting a curling free-kick.
With the match into extra-time, Sekhukhune were ahead as Tshibwabwa capitalised on Webber’s delivery into the area and nodded in the far corner.
There were drama in the last minute after the Lions of the North send the match to penalties when Emilio Abreu sneaked nodded in at the near post from a left-sided cross.
After a solid executions in the shoot-out, Mphele missed the decisive one and saw Babina Noko in the last 16 after they had dispatched all five of their spot-kicks.
Confirmed line-ups:
Sekhukhune United: Makgolane, Mkhabela, Tiwani, Cardiso, Tshibwabwa, Mkhize, Masiya, Webber, Sarpong, Mntambo, Mncube.
Subs: Mtsweni, Rikhotso, Mobbie, Ntiya-Ntiya, Dias, Mokotjo, Ohizu, Mokhele.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
Click HERE to register!
