Stellies trump Kaizer Chiefs on penalties to reach CKO quarter-finals
Stellenbosch FC advanced to the quarter-final of the Carling Knockout after recording a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Kaizer Chiefs in the Round of 16.
Proceedings were delayed by 30 minutes to allow a large contingent of supporters outside the stadium to enter, but the match finally kicked off at 15h30 to an electric atmosphere at DHL Stadium in Cape Town.
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Playing from left to right, Chiefs came close to opening the scoring after a quarter of an hour played when Khanyisa Mayo rattled the crossbar with a powerful effort.
Oscarine Masuluke, starting ahead of Stellies’ regular ‘keeper Sage Stephens, was then forced to make two key interventions to keep the Amakhosi at bay, before the team from the Winelands responded at the other end.
Khomotjo Lekoloane made a driving run down the left wing and was fouled just outside the box, although the free-kick was dealt with, before Genino Palace fired a snapshot straight at Chiefs’ Fiacre Ntwari.
Dillon Solomons then threatened for Chiefs with a long-range drive that dipped narrowly over Masuluke’s goal, and the towering shot stopper was called upon again on the stroke of half-time to keep out a direct free-kick.
There was, however, no separating the two sides at the break as Stellenbosch and Chiefs headed into the dressing rooms with the scores still level.
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In the second half, it was the Soweto giants who came out fastest, and Masuluke was once again forced to intervene, first to keep out a long-range effort from Mduduzi Shabalala and then to deny Mayo just minutes later.
The 32-year-old’s stellar evening was cruelly cut short soon after, however, as a neck injury forced him to be substituted by Stephens with an hour played on the clock.
Energy began to wane on both ends as the remaining thirty minutes fizzled out, and when the referee blew for full-time, the two sides were still deadlocked at 0-0.
Extra time followed, and with just minutes remaining in the tie, Stellies’ position was thrown into jeopardy when Thapelo Mokobodi took one for the team with a tactical foul and was shown a red card.
Steve Barker’s troops held firm despite their numerical disadvantage and forced the encounter into a penalty shootout, where Stephens’ earlier introduction proved to have been of divine intervention.
After Stellies’ first spot-kick was saved by Ntwari, Chiefs converted their first four, and looked set to emerge victorious when substitute Tashreeq Morris stepped up to the spot.
Stephens had other ideas, though, and denied the striker with a strong save. Sanele Barns then converted for Stellenbosch, and suddenly, the 2023 champions had the advantage in the shootout.
Dillon Solomons stepped up for Chiefs but there was no getting past Stellies’ wall in goal who pulled off another incredible save to secure the Club’s passage to the quarter-finals.
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Following the match, Stellenbosch FC were pitted away to Marumo Gallants in the last-eight of the Carling Knockout. Fixture information will be confirmed in due course.