Free State Stars beat Kaizer Chiefs 6-5 on penalties in the Telkom Knockout Cup quarter-finals at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday to advance to the next round.
Ea Lla Koto were the more lively side in the opening exchanges, with reward coming in the ninth minute when Bokang Tlhone broke the deadlock by cutting inside from his left and placing the ball into the top corner to beat Amakhosi goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune.
The Glamour Boys came close to levelling matters in the 14th minute when defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele met a Siphiwe Tshabalala corner kick, but his header effort was inches wide off target.
Ten minutes later Chiefs were gifted another equaliser chance when Michelle Katsvairo broke through the Stars defence but failed to beat goalkeeper Thela Ngobeni in a one-on-one.
Chiefs stayed in control and pressed forward in search of a leveller, but could not create any clear-cut chances and went into half-time a goal down.
Amakhosi came out guns blazing in the second half and almost found an equaliser in the 54th minute when Tshabalala latched on to a cross from Mphahlele, but his header was superbly saved by the Stars shot-stopper.
Five minutes later Tshabalala sent a cross towards Katsvairo, only for the forward’s headed effort to be denied by the Stars goalkeeper.
Ngobeni was called into action again in the 64th minute when Tshabalala made his way into the box after beating two defenders, but the Ea Lla Koto shot-stopper denied the veteran in a one-on-one situation.
However, in the 84th minute, Amakhosi finally found an equalising goal when substitute Edmore Chirambadare found the back of the net from 14 yards out to make it 1-1.
Lorenzo Gordinho should have put the match to bed in the dying seconds of regular time when he latched on to a Tshabalala cross, but his headed effort was guided inches wide of the target from six yards out.
After 90 minutes, the scoreline was locked at 1-1 and both sides were forced to play an additional 30 minutes in the knockout tournament.
However, eight minutes into extra time and Stars took the lead for the second time when Goodman Dlamini played Thokozani Sekotlong through on goal before he produced a clinical finish to make it 2-1, despite Chiefs dominating the rest of the first half of extra time.
Four minutes into the second half of extra time Amakhosi levelled for the second time when Erick Mathoho headed home from a George Maluleka free kick to make it 2-2.
Steve Komphela came close to stealing the victory in the 114th minute when Mathoho came within inches of the target when he latched on to a Tshabalala corner kick, but only managing to rattle the woodwork.
After 120 minutes of play it was 2-2 and a penalty shootout was required. In the end Ea Lla Koto were victorious by beating Chiefs 6-5 on penalties to advance to the semi-finals of the tournament.
Image: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
