The Bloemfontein outfit had to dig deep after being reduced to 10 men during extra time, but they kept their composure when it mattered most to seal a hard-fought victory and keep their cup ambitions alive.

The encounter got off to a cautious start, with Siwelele settling comfortably into possession and looking to dictate proceedings. Shadrack Kobedi and Thato Letshedi played important roles in the midfield, helping the visitors control the tempo, although their dominance did not translate into clear-cut scoring opportunities.

Polokwane City, meanwhile, looked threatening whenever they found space on the counter-attack. Tidimalo Molokwane and Lucky Malatsi used their movement and pace to test the Siwelele defence, keeping the visitors alert at the back.

Despite having less possession, the hosts managed to produce nine shots in the opening 45 minutes, although none found the target. Siwelele struggled to make their own attacking efforts count, with their three attempts failing to trouble the Polokwane goalkeeper.

The pattern continued after the break, with Siwelele enjoying the lion’s share of possession during the opening 10 minutes of the second half. However, the visitors found it difficult to turn their control of the ball into meaningful opportunities, with Polokwane remaining organised and disciplined at the back.

The hosts continued to look for openings on the counter, once again managing to get more shots away as the match wore on.

Neither side could find the decisive breakthrough in regulation time, sending the contest into extra time. Siwelele had enjoyed extended spells of possession but were left frustrated by their inability to find a way past the Polokwane defence.

The first period of extra time offered little in the way of clear scoring chances, although Siwelele continued to look the more progressive side going forward.

Their task became considerably tougher in the 107th minute when Aphiwe Baliti was sent off, leaving the Bloemfontein side to negotiate the closing stages with 10 men. The dismissal handed Polokwane City an opportunity to increase the pressure as they searched desperately for a winner.

Siwelele, however, stood firm to force the match into a penalty shoot-out.

The shoot-out proved just as tense as the 120 minutes that preceded it. Siyabonga Ndebele missed for Siwelele, but Polokwane’s Tidimalo Molokwane and Oscarine Masuluke also failed to convert their attempts, shifting the momentum in the visitors’ favour.

With a place in the quarter-finals on the line, Letshedi stepped up and kept his nerve, converting the decisive spot-kick to spark celebrations for the travelling Siwelele supporters.

It was a significant result for the Bloemfontein side, who demonstrated resilience under pressure to progress despite playing the final stages with a numerical disadvantage.

Elsewhere in the Carling Knockout over the weekend, Golden Arrows delivered an emphatic 4-0 victory over Chippa United at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium.

AmaZulu edged Kruger United 1-0 at Mbombela Stadium, while Sekhukhune United claimed a convincing 3-1 win over Richards Bay at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cvs