Richards Bay advanced to the semi-finals of the Carling Knockout Cup with a dramatic 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory over Cape Town City, following a scoreless draw after extra time at the King Zwelithini Stadium.
In a tense match where both teams struggled to convert chances, it all came down to the penalty shoot-out.
The first two penalties were calmly dispatched by both sides, before Richards Bay’s Kenyan goalkeeper Ian Otieno made a crucial save, denying Cape Town City’s Thamsanqa Mkhize and giving the home team a pivotal edge.
Siyabonga Dube then had a chance to seal the victory for Richards Bay, but he missed the mark, sending his shot high into the stands.
Cape Town City, however, failed to capitalize on the reprieve, with substitute Kayden Francis also skying his penalty in a near-identical miss.
With tensions mounting, Moses Mthembu stepped up for Richards Bay, keeping his composure as he fired his shot past Cape Town City’s goalkeeper, Darren Keet, to secure the victory and send the Richards Bay fans into rapturous celebration.
The semi-final berth offers a significant boost for Richards Bay head coach Brandon Truter and his team, who have endured a challenging league season so far.
Currently sitting in 12th place with just one win in six matches, Richards Bay can take encouragement from their solid defensive display and the resilience shown throughout the match.
Otieno’s crucial save, in particular, highlighted the goalkeeper’s skill and poise under pressure, giving the team a foundation for a much-needed confidence boost in their cup campaign.
The defeat for Cape Town City marks another setback in what has been a difficult start to their season as well.
Head coach Erik Tinkler’s side has only managed five points in their opening five league games, and this latest disappointment will add to the pressure on the manager, especially with an upcoming home match against Polokwane City.
