Sekhukhune United booked their place in the final of the Nedbank Cup after they defeated Stellenbosch FC 4-3 on penalties at the Danie Craven Stadium on Sunday.

After regular time and extra time ended with no goals, Sekhukhune won the semi-final 4-3 on penalties, setting up a matchup with Orlando Pirates on May 27 in Pretoria.

In the last minute of extra time, Sekhukhune coach Brandon Truter took the advice of Moses Thembalethu, who works with the goalkeepers, and put Ntokozo Mtshweni on the field instead of Ivorian Badra Sangare.

It was a risky move, because Mtshweni is only United’s third choice for custodian. Sangare and Toaster Nsabata, both of whom have played on the international level, are both more experienced. Nsabata, however, was not available this weekend.

But it worked, and Mtshweni saved penalty kicks from Iqraam Rayners and Juan Ortiz of Venezuela to get Sekhukhune into the final in only their second season as a top-flight club.

Ortiz couldn’t calm down after his penalty kick was saved, and an official had to help him off the pitch in the Western Cape Winelands. He had his shirt over his face to hide his tears.

Before the South American failed to score, Pogiso Mahlangu put the fifth Sekhukhune penalty kick into the corner of the net to give the visiting team a lead that turned out to be enough to win.

The closest Stellenbosch came to breaking the tie before the shootout was when Argentine Junior Mendieta and American Devin Titus both hit the post.

On Saturday, the first semi-final also went into extra time before Pirates beat their biggest rivals, Kaizer Chiefs, 2-1 in front of 93,000 people in Johannesburg.

Photo by Gavin BarkerBackpagePix