AmaTuks send Venda packing via penalties

University of Pretoria booked their place in the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals after beating Venda Football Academy 4-3 on penalties at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Friday afternoon.

* Get DStv or Showmax Pro to watch all the action live.

The round-of-16 clash finished 3-3 after extra time as the lead exchanged hands on three occasions throughout the 120 minutes.

The two teams went into the half-time interval one goal apiece after Banele Gama quickly cancelled out Thabang Sibanyoni's opener for Tlisane Motaung's side.

Rankoko Tau then gave Venda the lead in the second half, only for Keegan Allan to hit back soon afterwards to make it 2-2.

Wonderboy Makhubu restored AmaTuks' lead in extra time, but Gerald Takwara equalised at the death to force a shootout.

Johnny Ferreira's men had the lion's share of the possession in Thohoyandou, but AmaTuks made the better start and hit the front just 12 minutes into the cup tie.

Sibanyoni was on hand to fire past Abdoulaye Kante from inside the area after being picked out by Kamogelo Pheeane.

However, their lead lasted only four minutes as Gama received the ball from Lerato Mofokeng inside the box and slotted home to level matters.

It remained 1-1 at the break and both teams made early changes in the second half in an attempt to gain the ascendancy, with Tuks bringing on Wonderboy Makhubu for Tebogo Mohlamonyane, while Tau and Rotonswa Mutsivhuli replaced Rophney Hlungwane and Tshepo Mofokeng for the hosts.

Venda would profit from their substitution as Tau took just nine minutes to make an impact, beating Thakasani Mbanjwa from inside the area to put them ahead.

The Pretoria outfit were presented with a golden opportunity to restore parity on 74 minutes though, when Sanele Barns was fouled inside the box to earn them a penalty, which was converted by Allan.

The visitors thought they had scored again two minutes later through Makhubu, who bundled the ball into the back of the net after Kamogelo Pheeane's initial shot had been saved by Kante, but the offside flag cut short their celebrations.

The game went to extra time and AmaTuks struck first, with Makhubu prodding home from close range on 96 minutes after Pheeane got to an aerial ball ahead of kKante and headed the ball towards goal.

They would be pegged back yet again five minutes from time when Venda were awarded a spot-kick for handball and Takwara beat Mbanjwa from 12 yards out to make it 3-3.

A shootout ensued and Tuks converted four of their five penalties, while Sedzani Mudau and Rankoko Tau missed theirs for Venda.

Venda Football Academy (1) 3 (Game 16', Tau 65', Takwara 115' PEN)
University of Pretoria (1) 3 (Sibanyoni 12', Allan 74' PEN, Makhubu 96')

VENDA FOOTBALL ACADEMY: A. Kante, N. Makhubele (S. Mbulu 85'), G. Takwara, K. Ramonyai, L. Mofokeng, T. Mofokeng (R. Mutsivhuli 56'), C. Matombo (L. Mulaudzi 104'), K. Mariba (S. Mudau 91') , B. Gama, R. Hlungwane (R. Tau 56'), J. Shongwe (V. Zitha 85').

AMATUKS: T. Mbanjwa, K. Allan, J. Tshabalala, S. Julies, L. Maqoko, T. Mohlamonyane (W. Makhubu 54'), K. Majadibodu, S. Barns, K. Pheeane (M. Chokoe 104'), T. Sibanyoni (B. Mokwena 71'), L. Phewa (T. Mokoena 110').