Third-choice 'keeper takes Sekhukhune to Nedbank Cup final

After regular and extra time failed to produce a goal, Sekhukhune won a tense semi-final 4-3 on penalties to set up a May 27 showdown with Orlando Pirates in Pretoria.

In the last minute of extra time, Sekhukhune coach Brandon Truter heeded the advice of his goalkeepers' coach, Moses Thembalethu, and replaced Ivorian Badra Sangare with Ntokozo Mtshweni.

It was a bold move as Mtshweni is only the third choice at United behind two experienced international goalkeepers, Sangare and Zambian Toaster Nsabata, who was unavailable this weekend.

But it worked as Mtshweni saved spot kicks from Iqraam Rayners and Venezuelan Juan Ortiz to take Sekhukhune into the final in just their second season as a top-flight club.

Substitute Ortiz was inconsolable after his kick was saved and had to be led from the pitch in the western Cape winelands by an official having covered his face with his shirt.

Prior to the failure of the South American to score, Pogiso Mahlangu fired the fifth Sekhukhune penalty into the corner of the net to give the visiting side what proved to be a winning lead.

Stellenbosch came closest to breaking the deadlock before the shootout with Argentine Junior Mendieta and Devin Titus hitting the woodwork during regular time.

The first semi-final on Saturday also went to extra time before Pirates overcame greatest rivals Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 before a capacity 93,000 crowd in Johannesburg.

Apart from a seven million rand ($380,000/340,000 euros) prize, the winners of the FA Cup qualify for the 2024 CAF Confederation Cup, the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.

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