Tshwane – SuperSport ended a nine-match winless run against Tshwane rivals Mamelodi Sundowns with a 3-1 penalty victory after their Telkom Knockout quarter-final clash at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday failed to produce any goals in 120 minutes.
Sundowns made a purposeful start and had two chances in the opening five minutes as Percy Tau drew a sharp reflex save out of Ronwen Williams, before Tau turned provider for Khama Billiat, but he miscued from close range.
Billiat had another good chance on 17 minutes when he was played clean through on goal but the Zimbabwean slipped at the crucial moment.
SuperSport, though, were always in the game and were within a whisker of taking a 23rd minute lead when Jeremy Brockie clipped a free kick against the crossbar.
Williams then again denied Tau with a great save on 37 minutes as the action continued.
Matsatsantsa had the first opportunity after the restart when Reneilwe Letsholonyane won the ball and released Brockie, but Downs keeper Denis Onyango was up to the task with a good save.
Stuart Baxter saw his side down to 10 men just after the hour mark when Onismor Bhasera was sent off after fouling Billiat.
The resulting free kick nearly saw the first goal as Hlompho Kekana rocked the frame of the Brazilians’ goal with his curled free kick.
The game was there for the taking, but neither team fashioned any real scoring opportunities until right at the end of regulation time when the impressive Letsholonyane stole the ball in the Sundowns box before stabbing his shot against the upright.
A scintillating move in the first minute of extra time saw Masandawana cutting through the SuperSport defence with Anthony Laffor finding the net after a one-two with Billiat, only for his goal to be incorrectly called off-sides by officials.
The pressure was relentless from Downs against the 10-men United, but they just could not make the breakthrough, the best chance seeing Wayne Arendse missing the target with a free header.
The match went to a penalty lottery where Sundowns appeared to lose their nerve as Laffor blasted his kick into the stands while weak efforts from Thabo Nthethe and Sibusiso Vilakazi were saved by Williams.
– ANA