Siwelele FC booked their place in the Carling Knockout quarter-finals after edging out Polokwane City in a tense penalty shoot-out.
Thato Letshedi kept his composure to convert the winning spot-kick, sending Siwelele through as the second team to secure a last-eight berth.
The shoot-out was decided when Polokwane City goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke failed to convert his penalty, handing Siwelele a hard-fought victory after an evenly contested encounter.
The encounter was a repeat of the sides’ Betway Premiership meeting the previous Sunday, when Siwelele had also been looking to get the better of Rise and Shine.
Polokwane, meanwhile, continued their search for a first victory of the season.
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Chances were limited in the opening period, although Christian Saile came close to breaking the deadlock for Polokwane. Aphiwe Baliti supplied a delivery from the byline, but the former Kaizer Chiefs forward fired over the crossbar. Siwelele also threatened from a Baliti corner, with Yanda Mfolozi heading wide amid a crowded penalty area.
Polokwane emerged with greater urgency after the interval, but Tidimalo Molokwane failed to convert Giovani Philander’s cross from the right, directing his header off target.
At the other end, Masuluke denied Shadrack Kobedi after the Siwelele player attempted a quick effort following a free-kick.
Monty Mathlabane then tried an acrobatic overhead kick for Polokwane, only to send the ball over the goal as neither side found a breakthrough in normal time.
The contest took another turn five minutes into the second half of extra-time when Baliti received his second yellow card for fouling Surprise Manthonsi, leaving Siwelele with 10 men. Polokwane nearly exploited their advantage, but Bulelani Nikani’s looping header from a free-kick struck the foot of the post.
With the score still level after extra-time, Siwelele held their nerve in the shoot-out to secure quarter-final qualification.