Daveyton - Jomo Cosmos beat Platinum Stars 4-3 on penalties at the Sinaba Stadium on Sunday afternoon in the Nedbank Cup Last 16 after El-Hadji Samb and Patrick Malokase scored in extra time to take the match into penalties.
In the seventh minute veteran striker Alton Meireng found himself one-on-one with Stars keeper Jackson Mabokgwane after receiving a perfect through pass which had spilt the Stars defence, but he couldn’t score as Mabokgwane came to his team’s rescue with his foot.
In the 28th minute Stars' Nambian striker Henrico Botes was on the receiving end of a cross from the left wing, but saw his header tipped over the cross bar by Cosmos 'keeper Avril Phali.
With two minutes of regulation time left to play, Platinum Stars could have won when second half substitute Patrick Malokase failed to connect with the ball from the right wing and couldn’t capitalise in the six yard box when a touch could have sent the ball into the net for a goal.
Both teams were deadlocked at 0-0 when the match needed to go into extra time.
Seven minutes into extra time Malokase would make amends for the earlier missed opportunity.
Stars earned a set piece from outside the box and the on loan Orlando Pirates man hit a right footed curling shot that beat the Cosmos keeper to make it 1-0 after 97 minutes.
In the 105th minute, Meireng was guilty of another missed opportunity when he received a good cross from the left wing from Katlego Loke, but he missed the ball when the Stars keeper was at his mercy in the 105th minute of the match
When the match looked to be won by Stars, Cosmos gained a late equaliser in the dying seconds when El-Hadji Samb scored from close range in the 121st minute to take the match into the dreaded penalty shootout.
Phali saved Mduduzi Nyanda and Elias Ngwepe’s penalties to hand Cosmos a 4-3 shootout win.