Result: Bidvest Wits 4-4 Chippa United (Chippa won 5-3 on penalties)
Date: 30 March 2019
Venue: Bidvest Stadium
Chippa United advanced to last four of the Nedbank Cup semi-finals after overcoming Bidvest Wits in a clash that had eight goals and a penalty shoot-out.
Andile Mbenyane grabbed the lead for Clinton Larsen’s charges as early as the third minute with a flicked header at the near post following a corner.
The Clever Boys did not sit back and were level on 20 minutes through Gift Motupa, who found the back of the net with a close range strike on the far side after being left unmarked.
Chippa were forced to make their first substitution in the 27th minute after goalscorer Mbenyane picked up a serious injury and was rushed to the hospital. He was replaced by Kurt Lentjies.
Moments before the break, Terrence Dzvukamanja headed the home side in front after the Chili Boys defence were caught napping once again.
The Chilli Boys pressured the hosts in the early stages of the second stanza and their pressure paid off in the 63rd minute after being awarded a penalty for a handball inside the box. Boikanyo Komane was brave enough to take the spot-kick and made it 2-2 from 12-yards out.
It was an end-to-end affair as Dzvukamanja restored the lead for Wits ten minutes before time with a neat finish into the top corner after some impressive build-up play involving Gift Motupa.
Chippa went for broke with six minutes remaining as they brought on striker Rhulani Manzini in place of midfielder Tercious Malepe in search of the equaliser and they found it in the last minute of regulation time thanks to a sensational free-kick by Ruzaigh Gamildien to send the match to extra-time.
Rhulani Manzini made it 4-3 for the Chilli Boys in the sixth minute of extra time, tapping home at the back post following a cross from Lerato Manzini.
However, Hotto levelled matters for Wits in the 18th minute of extra time with a volley on the far side of the box after being picked out by Pelembe and ultimately sent the game into a penalty shoot-out.
It was the Chilli Boys who held their nerve as they slotted away all five spot kicks to triumph 5-3 in the shoot-out, with Wits' Pelembe seeing his spot-kick saved.
