TTM kept their Nedbank Cup dream alive as they battled back from two goals down to beat SuperSport United 3-2 in the quarterfinals on Friday evening at the Thohoyandou Stadium.
Kaitano Tembo’s side appeared to be cruising when Jesse Donn and Gamphani Lungu put them 2-0 up, but Tumi Ngwepe and Naeem Amoojee hit back for the GladAfrica Championship outfit in the closing stages of regular time. Tumelo Makha secured the comeback win in extra time to book their passage to the semifinals.
Vhadau Vha Damani looked to make home advantage count early on as Biodun Alabi forced Ronwen Williams into a save with a strike from outside the box on nine minutes.
But it was the former champions who hit the front eight minutes later when Donn collected the ball from Aubrey Ngoma and unleashed a shot into the top left corner of the net from range.
The hosts went in search of an equaliser and Tshepo Matete just missed the target with an effort from inside the area on 26 minutes after being picked out by Rendani Ndou before Williams tipped Rhulani Manzini’s free-kick over the crossbar in the 39th minute.
SuperSport took their one-goal lead into the break and it was almost two shortly after the restart as Selaelo Rasebotja struck the left post from range following Ngoma’s cutback pass.
Gershin Kock was called into action for the first time on 51 minutes to deny Ngoma after he got off a shot inside the box, but the TTM keeper was beaten again 12 minutes later from the penalty spot.
Quick footwork from Ngoma inside the area drew a foul from Nicholas Motloung and Lungu made no mistake from 12 yards out to make it 2-0 for the visitors.
Keenan Phillips was unfortunate not to find a third goal for Matsatsantsa on 68 minutes with a volley that struck the crossbar, which seemed to spur the Limpopo club into action as they pulled one back moments later through Ngwepe, who beat Williams with a shot from outside the area.
Manzini tested Williams from distance soon afterwards as the goal gave them renewed hope, although Kock had to be alert at the opposite end to keep out strikes from Rasebotja and Lungu in quick succession to keep his team in the contest.
Those saves proved crucial as Amoojee restored parity five minutes from time after firing into the bottom right corner of the net from inside the box.
TTM went on to complete the comeback in the 11th minute of extra time when substitute Makha latched onto a through-ball from Teboho Motloung to slot past Williams.
TTM (0) 3 (Ngwepe 69′, Amoojee 85′, Makha 101′)
SuperSport United (1) 2 (Donn 17′, Lungu 63′ pen)
TTM: G. Kock, D. Thopola, N. Motloung, B. Alabi, L. Mpeta, L. Mlangeni (N. Amoojee 56′), T. Ngwepe, B. Dolamo (L. Muyambo 56′), T. Matete (T. Motloung 56′), R. Manzini, R. Ndou (T. Makha 78′).
SuperSport United: R. Williams, K. Phillips, K. Johannes, L. Fleurs, O. Bhasera, J. Donn, T. Mbatha (S. Nhlapo 67′), S. Rasebotja (T. Matodzi 104′), A. Ngoma (S. Maziko 104′), S. Ngobeni (T. Maseko 88′), G. Lungu.© Backpage TXT
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
