MagRush | September 17, 2019
Highlands Park defeated Polokwane City on penalties at Makhulong stadium last night.
Marking the historic competitive cup-final appearance in top flight football, “Lions of the North” lay in wait for the winner between Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United on a Wednesday night [7:30 p.m.] game.
There two-legged semi-final [finishing 0-0 in both encounters] was decided on penalty shootouts that ended 4-3 in favour of Highlands Park.
In a tightly contested match, 20 minutes into the game, Thela Ngoveni parried away a close-range volley across the goal, denying Polokwane City to score.
A minute later, Highlands Park nearly scored from a cross, on a bounce in the box, Peter Shalulile tried a tap-in and the ball skidded off the crossbar and deflected away from goal.
Again, Highlands came back on the 26th minute with Lindokuhle Mbatha trying to chip City’s shot-stopper George Chigova to no avail. Chigova came out to narrow the angle, forcing the striker to dink the ball and the goalkeeper palmed it over the bar.
Another go was launched by Polokwane City’s Sibusiso Mbonani who fluffed a golden opportunity on the 33rd minute with a goal gaping in front of him; sending the ball over the bar with an instep.
Edgar Manaka stole away from defender 7 minutes (52′) from the break, clear with the approaching keeper, he failed to lob the ball high enough to give the visitors a lead. Ngoveni saved the feeble effort from Manaka.
The MTN8 match ended in a disappointing 0-0 draw, echoing the first-leg tie at Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane.
At the end of the penalty kicks, Polokwane City coach Zlatko Krmpotic said that it was not easy to accept a loss in penalties. However, he congratulated his City players for the attempt and the night’s winners, Highlands Park.
His opponent, Owen da Gama, said that it was a very tight and exceptional game. Though he dedicated the victory to experience in the Highlands Park team, he emphasized that the “FIFA layoff” took the sting out of his players. “We were very lucky with penalties,” he commented.