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Cape Town - Substitute Ndumiso Mabena helped Platinum Stars fight back from two goals down to force a 2-2 draw against Township Rollers and win the match 5-4 on penalties in the opening match of the Maize Challenge played at Moruleng Stadium on Saturday morning.
Dikwena looked the stronger of the two teams in the opening minutes of the match with Tlou Segolela and Mdudisi Nyanda threatening down the right and left flanks.
Eleazer Rodgers and Robin Ngalande, who was among new faces at Platinum Stars, were also involved in Dikwena’s early attacks though failed to yield any good results.
Cavin Johnson’s side finally had a shot on goal in the 8th minute with Nyanda’s header hitting the post from a good ball played by Rodgers.
Rodgers also tested the Rollers goalkeeper who paired the ball away to deny the Platinum Stars lanky striker a goal in the 13th minute.
However, things turned for the worse as against the run of play, Rollers shocked the home team with the opening goal of the match.
Jerome Ramatlhakwane capitalised on a mistake by Thabiso Semenya with the Botswana international showing his goal scoring prowess with a brilliant run to beat the defenders and break the deadlock in the 16th minute.
Dikwena also fielded Senegalese central defender, Tall Gora, another new face for the Rustenburg-based side.
Rollers were now in control of the match and added the second towards the end of the first half through Segalome Boy, with a well taken strike that beat Dikwena goalkeeper, Bouna Coundul.
The start of the second half saw Johnson reacting with a number of changes including in the goalkeeping department where new signing Mbongezi Mzimela, signed from Chippa United, replaced Coundul.
Four attacking players in Mahlatsi Makudubela, Masibusane Zongo, Ndumiso Mabena and Sibusiso Mthethwa were also introduced in place of Rodgers, Segolela, Nyanda and Msomi.
The second half started at a low pace, but both Zongo and Makudubela looked lively shortly after coming in.
But it was just a matter of time before Mabena pulled one back for Dikwena as he made a beautiful turn inside the box to score the goal and make it 2-1 giving his team a chance of a comeback.
Mabena completed a great comeback in the 84th minute as he scored his second of the match from a similar position to make it 2-2 and take the match to penalties.
Dikwena won the match in penalties as Vuyo Mere, Tall, Mabena, Zulu and Makudubela all netted from the spot to help win 5-4.
They will meet Bloemfontein Celtic or Mpumalanga Black Aces in the final. That match was scheduled to get underway straight after the first semi-final.
