Moroka Swallows booked spot in the Nedbank Cup last 16 with a 3-1 win on penalties over Platinum City Rovers on Saturday afternoon.
Malawian Gabadinho Mhango, who was amongst the few players recalled by the Dube Birds started, as Thakasani Mbanjwa, Augustine Mahlonoko and Vusi Sibiya completed the rest of changes off their loss to Polokwane City.
There were very limited chances from the two in the opening exchanges, as the embattled visiting team looked to restore their campaign.
With both teams in the bottom-half of their respective divisions, this sort of cup tournament presented revival despite the unfavourable results recently.
Although, as the match kicked off either side were pretty compact than displaying enterprising all-out forward activity and concluded the first half on even terms with no goals recorded.
Interim Swallows coach Musa Nyatama decided to introduce the experienced Daniel Akpeyi ahead of the second half for Mbanjwa with Letsie Koapeng also removed.
The deadlock remained extremely difficult to come by, as Nyatama and his counterpart Ditheko Mototo made further changes in Gregory Damons and Lantshane Phalane.
With no deadlock, the Dube Birds and boys from the Championship took the match to extra-time to determine who gets to advance to the second round of the tournament.
Nothing changed in the scoring stakes as the clash remained goalless, thus it ensured a penalty shoot-out to get a winner of this keenly contested showdown in Vanderbiljpark.
The Dube Birds showed a nerve of steel with the spot-kicks after netting their opening four, while Rovers didn’t show the same but converted just one before missing three thus exited the cup.
Confirmed line-ups:
Platinum City Rovers: Mahlasela , Sithole, Shaku, Vilakazi, Madonsela, K. Zwane, Shai, Meveni, Dlamini, Ramaja, S. Zwane.
Subs: Mafuna, Mokgoshi, Nkumane, Theletsane, Mokaba, Mafuna, Ndlovu, Xaba, Hlatshwayo, Sigasa
Moroka Swallows: T. Mbanjwa, Mngonyama, Sibiya, Mphahlele, Tshanini, Mtshali, Mahlonoko, Khupe, Sanou, Koapeng, Mhango
Subs: Akpeyi, Damons, Everson, Mthethwa, Maponya, Rampa, Ngqonga, Phalane, L. Mbanjwa
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