Soccer
SuperSport win after penalties
2013-02-23 21:18
Gavin Hunt (Gallo Images)
|
Johannesburg - Title holders SuperSport United progressed to the second round of the Nedbank Cup after edging past Moroka Swallows in a penalty shootout in their last 32 clash in Atteridgeville on Saturday night.
Roger da Costa, taking the third spot kick for the Birds, blasted his shot wide to the left as United won the shootout 5-3, after the scores remained level at 0-0 following extra time.
"Overall the ball was bouncing a lot and there was a lot of aerial play, so it wasn't pretty stuff, and it's another draw," said SuperSport coach Gavin Hunt.
"We're creating lots of opportunities but we need to start scoring some of them."
Swallows mentor Zeca Marques seemed more satisfied with the match than his counterpart, despite the result.
"It was a typical cup match and I think both teams were committed," Marques said.
"It was a great performance from us and them, and they won on penalties. That's the way it goes."
Both sides seemed to wake up in the dying stages of a lacklustre 90 minutes of regulation time, after a dull encounter in which the SuperSport and Swallows strikers sat back.
United goalkeeper Greg Etafia reacted well to tip a close-range strike around the left post in the 76th minute.
At the other end of the field, Bradley Grobler blasted over for United in second-half injury time, and Thabiso Nkoana fired a header wide just seconds later.
The teams retreated once more, however, during 30 minutes of extra time, as the scores remained goalless.
Midfielder Larry Cohen, who joined Swallows last week, was named Man of the Match in his first full game for the Birds.
"It was a difficult game. SuperSport is a tough team," Cohen said.
"When it comes down to penalties, anything can happen, but well done to SuperSport for winning."