Staff Reporter.
Baroka FC avenged their recent defeat to TS Galaxy when they secured a 5-3 win on penalties following a 1-1 draw in a Nedbank Cup Last 16 match at the Mbombela Stadium on Sunday night.
Bakgaga Ba Mphahlele looked dangerous on the counter-attack from the start with Thamsanqa Masiya, who was keen to use his speed and dribbling skills to cut open the Rockets’ defence, looking lively.
The visitors were awarded a penalty after Masiya was fouled in the hosts’ box and Sekela Sithole scored from spot-kick – beating goalkeeper Melusi Buthelezi to make it 1-0 to Baroka in the 32nd minute.
Galaxy did create a few chances, but keeper Elvis Chipezeze denied Orebotse Mongae twice, before Augustine Chidi Kwem failed to direct his header towards goal from close range and the score was 1-0 to Baroka at halftime.
Kwem, who was keen to make amends for his close-range miss in the first-half, had an opportunity to level matters after the restart, but he was superbly denied by Chipezeze from a one-on-one situation.
However, the Rockets continued to push forward and they were gifted a goal when Sipho Maluleke netted an unfortunate own-goal from Mongae’s cross to make it 1-1 in the 74th minute.
The goal ensured that the game ended in a 1-1 stalemate in regulation time and the match went into extra-time with a spot in the quarterfinals at stake.
Both teams created goalscoring opportunities in extra-time as they searched for the winning goal, but they couldn’t find the back of the net and the match was to be decided by a penalty shoot.
Baroka went on to win 5-3 on penalties with Richard Mbulu converting the final spot-kick to send Bakgaka Ba Mohahlele to the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile Summerfield Dynamos claimed a 1-0 win over fellow ABC Motsepe League side Black Eagles in a Nedbank Cup last 16 match at the Chatsworth Stadium on Sunday afternoon.