Result: Stellenbosch 2-2 Maritzburg United (Maritzburg won 5-4 on penalties)
Date: 07 February 2020
Venue: Athlone Stadium
Maritzburg United progressed to the Nedbank Cup last 16 after defeating Stellenbosch on penalties at Athlone Stadium on Friday evening.
Stellies coach Steve Barker made five changes, with goalkeeper Boy de Jong and Robyn Johannes being recalled while new signings Asavela Mbekile and Nathan Sankala were handed debuts.
The hosts were threatening early on with quick attacks and grabbed the lead in the ninth minute after Mpho Matsi wrestled possession away from United shot-stopper Bongani Mpandle and poked an outstretched shot to an empty net.
The Team of Choice were fighting back after that and were awarded a penalty in the 21st minute after Nyiko Mobbie brought down Tlolane on the left side of the box. Thabiso Kutumela had the confidence to take the spot-kick and sent de Jong the wrong way to level matters.
Skelem restored the lead for Stellies six minutes later with a clinical finish into the top corner after United failed to clear a corner-kick.
Steve Barker's troops came very close to making bagging a third goal with ten minutes left of the first stanza after Ovidy Karuru chipped a well-weighted cross for Ryan Moon at the near post but the former Kaizer Chiefs striker's header was kept out by Mpandle with his legs.
Kutumela brought Maritzburg back to the game again on the stroke of half-time with a powerful strike at the near post after playing a one-two with Claasen on the edge of the box.
TMoon came close to giving Stellies the lead on the hour-mark after turning well inside the box and unleashed a right footed strike that missed the top corner slightly over.
De Jong nearly gifted Maritzburg the lead with 15 minutes remaining, as he was pressed inside the six-yard box attempting to dribble past two players and he escaped the challenges by the skin of his teeth, but that proved to be the final chance of regulation time.
With tired legs anticipated in extra-time, Barker rested Moon at the beginning of the first half of extra-time and brought on defender Bongane Mathabela in a tactical switch.
However, Stellies came the closest to finding the winner in the 18th minute of extra-time after substitute Granwald Scott found space just outside the box and curled a stunning strike that missed the bottom corner by inches.
The clash eventually went to penalty shoot-out, where the Team of Choice claimed a 5-4 win in the shoot-out, with Kwanda Mngonyama scoring a winning penalty.
Stellenbosch: 31. De Jong, 42. Mobbie, 3. Ndlovu, 5. Mthethwa, 16. Johannes, 32. Mbekile, 23. Sinkala, 8. Matsi, 18. Skelem, 17. Karuru, 29. Moon.
Subs: Pool, 47. Gould, 10. Rayners, 15. Bergman, 12. Scott, 21. Isaacs, Mathabela.
Maritzburg: 30. Mpandle, 5. Morgan, 25. Xulu, 45. Mngonyama, 23. De Reuck, 7. Kutumela, 6. Timm, 14. Claasen, 15. Ntshangase, 40. Tlolane, 10. Brockie.
Subs: Barr, 4. Allie, 36. Kunene, 8. Buchanan, 26. Shandu, 9. Augusto, 11. Jappie.
