Maritzburg shoot down Stars

Johannesburg - Maritzburg United held their nerve to secure a 3-1 penalty shoot-out victory over Platinum Stars following a 1-1 draw in their Nedbank Cup Last 16 clash at the Moruleng Stadium on Saturday.

It was a first cup defeated for Stars in nine knockout games and ends their hope of a treble of titles in domestic cup competitions after they won the MTN8 and Telkom Knockout this season.

Issa Sarr had put them ahead just before halftime, but Heinrich Isaacks equalized for United.

Dikwena had numerous opportunities to win the game but were undone by a mixture of poor finishing and bad luck.

It looked as though the teams would head to the break goalless after a tight opening period, but the home side did grab the opener on 44 minutes.

Mogakolodi Ngele’s free-kick was met by the head of Sarr and his powerful effort lodged in the corner of the goal.

United emerged for the second period with plenty of purpose and drew level on 51 minutes.

Smeekes showed great determination to get to the byline and cross the ball into the six-yard box and when Stars failed to clear the danger, Isaacks was on hand to crash the ball home.     

Siphelele Mthembu had two excellent chances to put Dikwena ahead once more, rounding the goalkeeper twice but failing to find the back of the net. On the first occasion he hit the side-netting, the second he found the base of the post.

After the game went to a penalty shoot-out, Henrico Botes, Solomon Mathe and Sibusiso Msomi all missed their spot-kicks as United booked a place in the quarterfinals.

Scorers:

Platinum Stars (1) [1] 1 (Sarr 44’)

Maritzburg United (0) [1] 1 (Isaacks 51’)
After extra time; Maritzburg win 3-1 on penalties.

Penalty sequence: Jayiya scored, Mere scored; Johannes scored, Botes saved; D Booysen missed, Mathe saved; Isaacks scored, Msomi missed

Teams:

Stars: Mpontshane, Mere, Mhlongo, Semenya, Mpeta, Mathe, Sarr, Nyanda (Msomi 109’, Tshabalala (Makudubela 54’), Ngele (Botes 63’), S Mthembu.

United: Vries, Matuka, Awal (M Booysen 45’), Johannes, Evans, Mkhize, Hartog (D Booysen 101’), Vilakazi, Jayiya, Smeekes (Mandaza 66’), Isaacks.