Mamelodi Sundowns advanced to the semi-finals of the MTN8 after defeating Kaizer Chiefs on penalties, where there was a bit of drama on Sunday afternoon.
MTN8
Halftime: Mamelodi Sundowns 2-2 Kaizer Chiefs (Sundowns won 2-1 on penalties)
Date: 15 August 2021
Venue: Lucas Moripe Stadium
Chiefs handed debuts to Kgaogelo Sekgota, Cole Alexander, Phathutshedzo Nange and Sifiso Hlanti, meanwhile, Sundowns were without their number one shot-stopper Denis Onyango, with none of their new signings making the line-up.
The Brazilians got off to fine start as Peter Shalulile opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a close-range after pin-point cross by Lyle Lakay.
Stuart Baxter's charges were unable to settle and suffered another blow in the 23rd minute after Themba Zwane gave Masandawana a 2-0 lead with a clinical low strike inside the box after a neat passing move.
Lakay was unlucky not to make it 3-0 in the 32nd minute with a swerving strike from range that came off the crossbar, with goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune well beaten.
That proved to be a wake up call for Chiefs as Bernard Parker pulled a goal back for them seven minutes before the break with a free header inside the box after some good work by Njabulo Blom.
Check out Chiefs' recently launched new home and away kits...
Baxter eventually made a change on the hour-mark, bringing on Keagan Dolly for his official debut against his former side in place of Sekgota and Dolly had an immediate impact, as his first touch was a through ball to Billiat, who made it 2-2 with a first time finish into the top corner.
However, the game was there for the taking in the closing minutes and Nange almost snatched the winner for Chiefs in the last two minutes with a curling strike from just outside the box that was parried away by goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene.
The hosts were building momentum early in extra-time and Lakay had a chance to restore their lead in the fourth minute of extra-time after receiving a through ball unmarked on the far side but Khune made a good save.
Maema almost snatched the winner for Masandawana in the 19th minute of extra-time with a diagonal strike inside the box that missed just wide.
There were tired legs out there in the closing phase fo extra-time and neither side had the cutting edge to create clear chances and the match went to penalty shoot-out, where Mweene stole the show with four saves.
Here's how they started:
Sundowns: Mweene, Mudau, De Reuck, Lebusa, Lakay, Mvala, Coetzee, Domingo, Modiba, Zwane, Shalulile
Subs: Pieterse, Lunga, Morena, Grant Kekana, Maema, Jali, Mkhulise, Safranko, Kutumela.
Chiefs: Khune, Hlanti, Mathoho, Cardoso, Blom, Alexander, Nange, Sekgota, Parker, Billiat, Nurkovic
Subs: Petersen, Frosler, Mabiliso, Njabulo Ngcobo, Akumu, Mshini Ngcobo, Mashiane, Radebe, Dolly
