/ 30 October 2006

Santos, Stars advance in Telkom Cup

Santos advanced to the quarterfinals of the Telkom Knockout competition when they beat Jomo Cosmos 1-0 at the Huntersfield Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The teams were locked 0-0 all at half-time.

As early as the third minute, Santos striker Jonathan Armogam tested Cosmos goalkeeper Walter Khumalo with a shot that hit the cross bar and back into play.

In the second half, Santos began controlling the game again and midfielder Mogogi Geabonamang struck a shot but failed to unlock Khumalo.

Five minutes before the end of the match Santos coach Roger de Sa’s charges surprised Cosmos when Marawaan Bantam scored from a free kick, which deflected from Cosmos defender Morgan Gould who had come on for the injured Valerie Nahayo earlier in the 72nd minute.

Meanwhile, in a light shower on Sunday at the Royal Bafokeng Sport Stadium in Phokeng, Silver Stars beat Bloemfontein Celtic 4-3 on penalties after playing to a 1-1 all draw at the end of extra-time.

The teams were deadlocked at 0-0 at the end of the mandatory 90 minutes.

By virtue of winning, Stars have qualified for the quarterfinals of the Telkom Knockout competition.

Stars midfielder Dale Studzinski, who had Celtic’s defence working over-time, scored first for the hosts in the third minute of extra-time before Celtic’s Ntokozo Sikhakhane equalised in the 119th minute, forcing the two teams to go into the penalty shoot-out.

Sikhakhane had been the toast of the match for Celtic as he scored when everybody, including his teammates, thought that Stars had won the game with only a minute left of extra-time.

Referee Jerome Damon blew the whistle a minute later and ordered the teams to go into the penalty shoot-out.

Celtic’s scorers in the shoot-outs were James Madidilane, Thabo Nthethe and Sikhakhane.

Celtic players guilty of not converting their penalties were Patrick Malokase, who ballooned the ball sky high, and Moses Spandeel, who shot straight into Wayne Sandilands’s hands.

For Stars, penalties came from defender and captain Willem Jackson, Studzinski, Dingaan Masonabo and Jomo Moatlhaping. — Sapa