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penalty shootout after the semifinal match finished 2-2, in 120 minutes, at the Peter Mokaba Stadium yesterday.
Chidzambwa now looks set to attract the interests of the big boys of Super Diski after guiding Leopards into the final against Orlando Pirates.
The game started at quite a rapid pace with both sides looking to assert their dominance early on. Leopards, though, seemed to have gained the upper hand and definitely had the lion’s share of possession.
It was Baroka who had the first shot on goal in the seventh minute. Thobani Mncwango let loose with a powerful 22-yard strike, but the Leopards goalkeeper, Azwinndini Maphaha, was up to the challenge making a finger tip save to tip the ball over the crossbar. Mncwango was definitely the dangerman for the Leopards defence and it was he that gave Baroka the lead in the 11th minute after the referee adjudged Simphiwe Vezi to have fouled Khunadi Nkoana inside the box.
Mncwango coolly and confidently stepped up to the spot and sent the keeper the wrong way with a well-placed penalty-kick, 1-0.
The score at half time saw Baroka leading 1-0. Leopards, though, did find an equaliser in the 50th minute. Neither side could find the winning goal in remainder of the game and consequently the match moved into extra time. Finally, in the 20th minute of extra time Leopards persistence in attack paid off when Ramagalela latched onto a poor clearance by Baroka and headed his side in front for the first time in the match, 2-1. Leopards’ joy, though, was short lived when Baroka hit back a minute later.
Mncwango found his second goal, although he did not know much about it as a Nkoana shot deflected off him and into the back of the Leopards net, 2-2. That is the way the match finished as we moved into the dreaded penalty shootout.
Baroka showed no composure in the shootout, missing three consecutive penalties before Raymond Monama scored the winning penalty for Leopards to send them into the final of the Nedbank Cup. – Supersoccer.