Tshatshingo Potholes booked a place in the last-16 stage of the King Abraham Pre-Season Competition by beating Tshanzhe Pre-Mighty 6-4 in their opening match at the Sambandou grounds on Sunday.
Pre-Mighty played aerial balls from behind in the opening minutes in a bid to frustrate the opponents. Potholes did not panic as they continued to play their normal, entertaining football.
Although he was still recovering from an ankle injury, the Potholes' midfielder, Mulamuleli Netshidzivhe, was a thorn in the flesh of the defence of Mighty. Netshidzivhe was everywhere, distributing some dangerous passes from the middle of the park, while at the same time playing as a full striker.
The centre forward of Pre-Mighty, Pandelani Rathogwa, could not believe his eyes after unleashing a half volley from the 25-meter area and the ball went a little wide.
Potholes were the first to blow the trumpet. Bethuel Radzamba, their overlapping midfielder, forced his way through the defence of Pre-Mighty and beat the keeper, Phathutshedzo Mbulaheni.
Potholes continued to knock on the opposition's door after the goal, but they struggled to find their way through the defence of Pre-Mighty. A mix-up within the Potholes' penalty box propelled a defender of Potholes to tap the ball back into his own net, causing an own goal.
Both sides created and wasted numerous scoring opportunities in the last half. The score was 1-1 when the referee blew the final whistle and the winner was determined through penalty shootout. Potholes converted all their five chances through Israel Munyai, Ronewa Sinthumule, Bethuel Radamba, Zwophethea Singo and Mulamuleli Netshidzivhe, while Pre-Mighty scored three.