Platinum Stars beat Kaizer Chiefs 5-3 after penalties in the Telkom Knockout quarterfinal at the FNB Stadium on a cold Sunday afternoon. The Amakhosi dominated the match, especially after the first half. However, Chiefs were unable to convert the numerous chances. As a result, the game ended in 0-0 after extra time. Penalties decided the encounter.

Bernard Parker returned to the starting line-up, relegating George Lebese to the bench. Morgan Gould replaced Erick Mathoho, who is struggling with a niggling injury.

Dikwena tried to disrupt Amakhosi’s way of playing as early as possible. Still, Chiefs created some early chances. The best was for Kingston Nkhatha inside ten minutes of play. But the striker shot the ball in the side netting from close range.

The opening stage was lively with both teams willing to play and move players forward in numbers. However, not many further opportunities arose for both sides until the 31st minute when, again, Nkhatha had a chance to open the score. The striker, however, missed the target, while he should have made the goalkeeper work.

Stars got their best opportunity in the 39th minute when Ndumiso Mabena’s shot was tipped over the crossbar by Chiefs’ goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo. Thereafter the Amakhosi got two great chances to score. But Parker and Nkhatha (header) couldn’t get the ball past Stars’ keeper.

The second half started like the first, with Stars keeping it very tight. In the 54th minute, Nkhatha again found some space, but the Dikwena goalkeeper saved well. By that stage the striker must have been wondering where his goal would be coming from.

The Amakhosi kept on having most of the possession. It resulted in another opportunity in the 65th minute, but the Stars keeper blocked Parker’s shot.

Dikwena tried to catch Chiefs on the break, but captain Tefu Mashamaite and Gould were, like usual, convincing in the centre of defence. It meant that Amakhosi goalkeeper Khuzwayo didn’t have much work to do.

Slowly, the Amakhosi started to dominate the game with two excellent chances coming in short time. But both Sibuniso Gaxa and Nkhatha failed to head the ball in goal from close range.

Parker got the last chance in normal time, but he headed the ball past the wrong side of the post. As a result, the game had to go to extra time. Amazingly, no substitutions took place during the 90 minutes of play.

Chiefs continued to dominate with Stars now happy to sit back. Then, in the 97th minute, Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter – his 100th game in charge of the Amakhosi – decided to ring the changes, bringing on George Lebese (for Parker) and Siphelele Mthembu (for Nkhatha).

Shortly hereafter, another chance came Amakhosi’s way, but Tshabalala headed the ball over the crossbar.

In the end, the game had to be decided on penalties. Tshabalala, Masango and Kgotso Moleko (who came on during extra time) scored for the Amakhosi, while George Lebese missed. It means that Platinum Stars will progress to the semifinals of the Telkom Knockout.

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 3 (Tshabalala, Masango, Moleko)

Platinum Stars (0) 5 (Mere, Rodgers, Ngele, Gumede, Mpeta)

Kaizer Chiefs: Khuzwayo, Gaxa (Moleko 119’), Mashamaite (C), Gould, Masilela, Masango, Letsholonyane, Katsande, Tshabalala, Nkhatha (Mthembu 97’), Parker (Lebese 97’)

Platinum Stars: Mpontshane, Mere (C), Gumede, Semenya, Mpeta, Madubanya, Mathe, Mabena (Banyane 100th), Ng'ambi (Ngele 113’), Rodgers, Tshabalala (Msomi 117’)