Tshatshingo Potholes will not take part in the semifinal stage of the MTG and PIB KO competition. This follows their 3-4 defeat at the hands of Luphephe FC at the Khubvi Benjies grounds on Sunday.
Luphephe deserved to win from the onset, but their strikers seemed to have forgotten their scoring boots at home.
Thabelo Tshisevhe of Luphephe was a difficult player to contain. He was everywhere, distributing telling passes to the frontrunners, while at the same time playing as a striker.
Realizing that it would be difficult for them to score, Potholes abandoned their positions and packed themselves at the far back. Luphephe effected two changes to their starting line-up before the referee blew the half-time whistle. They introduced Pfano Mukwevho and Nyambeni Nange for Humbulani Lungwani and Steward Nemafhohoni.
Potholes rectified their mistakes in the second half and started to play attacking football. That frustrated the defenders of Luphephe, but it was only for some moments as they again lost cohesion in the middle of the park over time.
The only change Potholes effected to their original team was when they replaced Rihangwele Manala with Ipfi Ratshilumela towards the end of the game.
No goal was scored during the regulation time and the winner was determined through a penalty shoot-out. Luphephe converted four of their five chances through Thebelo Tshisevhe, Mukhethwa Kwinda, Pfano Mukwevho and Pfarelo Gumbu, while Potholes scored via Wanga Netshidzivhe, Thembi Maboho and Tshifhambano Ramudingani.