Stellenbosch FC advanced to the Nedbank Cup round of 16 after beating Pretoria Callies 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in extra-time on Friday evening.
Stellies made five changes to the side that drew with SuperSport United, as Oscarine Masuluke, Fawaaz Basadien, Athenkosi Mcaba, Antonio Van Wyk and Deano Van Rooyen were recalled.
Steve Barker's charges were on the front foot in the early exchanges, as they looked to get an early goal but they were met with resistance from Callies.
The Cape Winelands side were patient on the ball, as the game progressed but they could not move around a deep block from the Motsepe Foundation Championship outfit, with little goal-mouth action.
The same theme continued in the latter phase of the first stanza and changes were needed to effect the game from both sides, particularly Callies, who spend virtually the whole half defending.
Barker opted not to make changes at half-time and his faith in the starting team paid off on 66 minutes after Devin Titus broke the deadlock with a looping shot after he was teed up by Basadien.
However, Stellies needed fresh legs after that up top as Anicet Oura replaced Andre de Jong.
The Romans made a double change to turn things around with 14 minutes to go, as Leandro De Sousa and Tshiamo Mahome were introduced.
De Sousa rescued the game for Callies with three minutes to go, after he found the equaliser with a strike in the box and forced the game to extra-time after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
In a cagey affair at the beginning of extra-time, Titus only came close to restoring the lead for the hosts on the stroke of half-time of extra-time with a shot that was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Tshepo Mohui.
Neither side could get momentum in the closing minutes of the second stanza of extra-time and the sides settled for the 1-1 draw that took them to penalty shootouts.
Masuluke was the hero for Stellies as they won the penalty shootouts 4-3 after the former Baroka goalkeeper saved two penalties and Kyle Jurgens netted the winning spot-kick for Barker's men.
Confirmed line-ups:
Stellenbosch FC: Masuluke, Toure, Mcaba, Basadien, Van Rooyen, Nduli, Adams, Van Wyk, Oura, Titus, Rayners
Subs: Langeveldt, Moloisane, Sibande, Jurgens, Matsheke, Mgaga, De Jong, Boji, Colley
Pretoria Callies: Mohui, Lekaba, Sebone, Mgwaba, Moremi, Nyembani, Mvundlela, Yamile, Mabilo, Mthembu
Subs: Mlama, Motloung, Mahome, De Soua, Ncube, Smith, Ledwaba, Shongwe, Luthuli
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