City pay penalty as Celtic book date with Wits
Another failure for Polokwane at home
Bloemfontein Celtic set up a Telkom Knockout final meeting with Bidvest Wits on December 2 after a 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory over Polokwane City following a 1-1 draw at the Peter Mokaba Stadium yesterday.
After a goalless 90 minutes, Jacky Motshegwa had Celtic in front in extra-time, but Rendani Ndou kept up his fine scoring form with an equaliser to send the game to penalties.
City were behind in the shoot-out as they missed their second and third spot-kicks, and it was left to Tshegofatso Mabasa to fire home the winning kick and send Celtic into the final at Princess Magogo Stadium , Durban.
It is bitter disappointment for City, who needed penalties to get past Ajax Cape Town and Orlando Pirates in the earlier rounds, but found it third time unlucky.
The first half was devoid of clear-cut chances, bar a fine opening for Celtic’s Roggert Nyundu.
He looked to have a simplest of tap-ins from a yard out, but was put off by a home defender and ended up missing the ball completely.
Walter Musona forced a fine save from Patrick Tignyemb in the Celtic goal when he thundered an effort at goal from 35 yards, but the veteran Cameroon gloveman showed fine reactions to beat the ball away.
Rodney Ramagalela had the
Mbule, who was playing in his first game in the competition, held his own in midfield against Zambia international Nathan Sinkala.
After finding the differencemaking away goal early after the interval, Matsatsantsa began to dictate the flow of the game by reducing the tempo.
But they soon let themselves down by conceding the second goal from a corner kick.
Tired legs caught up with them in the second half, as Mazembe had chances to extend their lead, including a clear penalty that was not given. only other chance of note in the half when he had a free header from a corner, but couldn’t direct it on target.
City’s Sibusiso Mbonani was fortunate not to receive a red card from referee Christopher Harrison near the end of the half when he intentionally booted the ball into Nyundu, who was lying on the ground having been fouled.
Neither side could find a winner in normal time, but the visitors grabbed the lead in extra-time through Motshegwa.
Celtic sat back as they tried to protect their lead, but Tignyemb was finally beaten on 115 minutes as Maluleke’s corner was headed home by Ndou for his third goal of the tournament. City have struggled at home this season, winning just once.