Polokwane City stunned Orlando Pirates to advance to a first ever Telkom Knockout semifinal after a 4-2 penalty shootout win at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
City twice led twice through a brace from Rendani Ndou, but Pirates hit back through Ntsikelelo Nyauza and Mpho Makola. The match went to penalties after the teams ended extra-time at 2-2, and after Marc van Heerden and Nyauza missed for the home side, City celebrated what was a famous victory.
City were ahead inside two minutes when Rodney Ramagalela broke free on the right and his cross was headed home by Ndou. Pirates hit back when defender Nyauza drilled the ball home, but the visitors regained the lead before halftime with Ndou grabbing his second after receiving an excellent pass from Jabu Maluleke and thundered the ball low into the back of the net.
Before that, Pirates had missed a penalty when Mpho Makola saw his effort saved by City goalkeeper George Chigova, who had been penalised for a foul on Lorch.
The home side did find an equaliser deep into first half stoppage time though, when Makola had the simplest of headers at the back post.
Pirates spurned numerous opportunities in the second half, but perhaps the best chance fell to City as Bongile Booi found himself with just Sandilands to beat, but he blasted over the bar.
Egypt international Amr Gamal handed Bidvest Wits a semifinal spot with a winner inside 10 minutes as they defeated Baroka FC 1-0 at the Bidvest Stadium.
Wits have now won all four of their meetings with Baroka over the last two seasons and have yet to concede a goal. It is also a third win in four games for The Clever Boys, who are starting to find some much-needed form.
In the earlier kick-off, Bloemfontein Celtic came from behind to seal a semifinal spot with a 2-1 win over Platinum Stars at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
Stars were ahead on the half-hour mark as Bongi Ntuli provided a clever finish with a lob over Celtic goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb. Ntuli might have made it 2-0 when he profited from a poor back-pass early in the second period, but his effort was this time saved by Tignyemb.
The visitors levelled on 60 minutes when Lantshane Phalane drilled a free-kick low past the Stars wall and into the net, and the comeback was complete 10 minutes from time as Tshegofatso Mabaso had a simple finish having been set-up by Kabelo Mahlasela.