Lyle Lakay of Bloemfontein Celtic (Photo by Charle Lombard/Gallo Images)

Telkom Knockout quarterfinals: Results 04 November 2017 and semifinal draw

Pirates dumped out!

by Siviwe Breakfast

04-11-2017 18:29

in Premier Soccer League

Lyle Lakay of Bloemfontein Celtic (Photo by Charle Lombard/Gallo Images)

Orlando Pirates crashed out of the Telkom Knockout on Saturday when they lost 4-2 to Polokwane City on penalties, after the first 90 minutes ended with the teams deadlocked at 2-2.

The game started off in a fiery note as Rendani Ndou opened the scoring for the visitors right after kick-off but it was soon cancelled out by Ntsikelelo Nyauza before Ndou struck again, four minutes before the break.

Mpho Makola brought the home side level again, right on the stroke of halftime ensuring the sides are deadlocked going into the second half.

The second half produced some sloppy football from both sides, with City getting more of the clear-cut chances which they duly wasted.

It was no different on the other end as Pirates also failed to bury the chances that fell upon them, with Mpho Makola the biggest culprit.

Extra time could not separate the sides as the game went to a penalty shootout which started well for the home side as City missed their first penalty. However, the visitors were soon back in the game when Marc van Heerden’s spot kick was saved, before Nyauza’s effort flew over the crossbar.

Polokwane converted their final penalty to send them through to the semis.

Across town, Bidvest Wits held on to a slim lead as they led Baroka FC 1-0 through an 11th minute goal from Egyptian striker Amr Gamal. The visitors could not find an equaliser as the league champions fought hard to go through to the next round.

Earlier in the day, Bloemfontein brought to an abrupt end both Platinum Stars’ mini unbeaten streak and their run in the Telkom Knockout when they came out 2-1 victors at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

Bongi Ntuli opened the scoring in the 30^th minute for the hosts, before Celtic responded on the hour mark through Lantshene Phalane. With nine minutes to go before the final whistle, Tshego Mabaso struck to send the visitors through to the semis.

In Sunday’s only fixture, Bernard Parker’s first half spot kick was enough to send Kaizer Chiefs through to the semi finals at the expense of Chippa United when they clinched a 1-0 win in Port Elizabeth.

Chiefs could have had a second before the break but Willard Katsande’s header was ruled offside, even though replays showed the Zimbabwean international was onside.

It was end-to-end stuff as Chippa looked for the equaliser while Amakhosi were not resting on their laurels but neither side found the back of the net and the score remained 1-0.