Telkom Knockout
Result: Polokwane City 1-1 Bloemfontein Celtic (Celtic won 4-3 on penalties)
Date: 19 November 2017
Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium
Bloemfontein Celtic secured their ticket to the Telkom Knockout final, after claiming a 4-3 penalty shoot-out win over Polokwane City on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors had the first shot on goal, in the 10th minute after Kabelo Mahlasela tried his luck from outside the box but failed to hit the target.
Siwelele should have scored in the 16th minute, when Ndumiso Mabena’s ball across the face of goal was missed by a sliding effort from Roggert Nyundu.
Sammy Seabi got Polokwane's first attempt on target in the 20th minute, but his effort was easily caught by Patrick Tignyemb.
10 minutes later, Tignyemb was called into action again when Walter Musona unleashed a rocket from outside the box, but the experienced goalkeeper pulled off a fine save.
The halftime whistle was blown with neither team managing to find a breakthrough as the scores remained level at 0-0.
The second was contested at a slow tempo, as both teams struggled to apply pressure to their opponents.
It was in the 63rd minute when Mahlasela was played through on goal with forward being denied a goal, by an on-rushing George Chigova with the rebound being blasted over the bar by Nyundu.
Ndou saw his attempt go just wide of the upright 70th minute, as City were forced to have shots from wide areas with Celtic covering the central route well.
Maluleke attempted a free-kick from long range, but found Tignyemb alert in goals as the keeper ensure that the scores remained 0-0 after 90 minutes, forcing extra-time.
Celtic eventually broke the deadlock in the first half of extra-time through a well-worked set-piece, that saw substitute Mabaso poke the ball into the back of the net just before the second half change over.
Rise and Shine looked lively and after a series of corners managed to find the equaliser through Ndou, who rose highest to fire a header past Tignyemb to level the scores at 1-1 after 114 minutes, forcing the game to a penalty shoot-out.
Ramagalela and Jabu Maluleke failed to convert their penalties as Celtic ran away 4-3 winners and booked their place in this year’s Telkom Knockout Final.
Here's how they lined up:
Polokwane: 1. Chigova, 2 Semenya, 19 Ravhuhali (Hlongwane 110’), 22. Mbonani, 5. Maponyane, 21. Seabi, 29. Musona, 20. Phiri (Mngomezulu 105’), 17. Ramagalela, 8. J. Maluleka, 35. Ndou.
Celtic: 30. Tignyemb, 3. Pfumbidzai, 22. Rikhotso, 27. Ndengane, 10. Mabena, 12. Mahlasela (Mabaso 90'), 5. Letlabika, 35. Naloyi, 7. Hotto, 45. Nyundu (Motshegwa 84'), 8. Phalane.
