Telkom Knockout 2019 Semi Final Draw
The semi-final draw for the Telkom Knockout 2019 took place soon after the final match of the last eight rounds of the competition ended. The most anticipated clash of the quarterfinal round was between the Soweto Giants, Kaizer Chiefs, and Orlando Pirates on Saturday afternoon. Mamelodi Sundowns also made it into the semifinal mix, defeating Chippa United in a nail-biting penalty shootout.
In the TKO draw, Chiefs and Sundowns avoided each other. After a league match last month that had the two teams exchanging not-so-pleasant words, it was best that Amakhosi and the Brazilians stayed clear of each other in the draw. In fact, the whole thing had set up something of a powder keg. But now, in the interests of moving the story along, let's defuse that scene. Unpleasantness begets more unpleasantness, so let's not go there. The two parties involved, Cape Town City and Kaizer Chiefs, have cleared the air.
Telkom Knockout 2019 Results
The quarterfinal rounds of the TKO tournament kicked off with a face-off between Erik Tinkler's Maritzburg United and the high-flying Highlands Park. Tinkler's men have been riding a recent wave of positive results, but their form took a little toss when tested against The Lions of the North. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, after which United showed nerves of steel in the penalty shootout to win 4-3.
The first Soweto Derby in a week saw drama at Moses Mabhida Stadium. Chiefs had taken the derby game to Durban, where they count a huge number of fans, and it paid off. The packed stadium saw the teams going hold-for-hold, with the Bucs getting on the board first through a Fortune Makaringe strike. Leonardo Castro equalized to send the game into extra time. Both teams scored a goal apiece to send the game into penalties. It would be Amakhosi who emerged victorious, scoring 4 penalties to Pirates' 2.
The only match that did not finish level after the normal 90 minutes was Golden Arrows versus Super Sports United. The men from Tshwane were hoping to snatch their second successive trophy when they crossed the country's vast interior to visit the coastal province. They fell behind to a first-half goal from Lindokuhle Mtshali and could not find the net in the second half. Arrows' defense (the men from KZN) ensured that they finished level when it mattered most.
The blockbuster tie that concluded the round was the match between Chippa United and Mamelodi Sundowns. For most of the match, it looked as though Sundowns were going to suffer a second consecutive loss in a week, but the Tshwane side showed their metal. The match was the third quarterfinal to finish 2-2 after regular time and extra time, and thus it went to penalties. The heroics of goalkeeper Denis Onyango, who saved the first shot by Chippa's Ndumiso Mabena, allowed Sundowns to march to the semifinals of the 2023 edition of the knockout tournament.
The fixtures for the 2019 Telkom Knockout will be held on November 22 and 23. These will unfold in the weekend immediately following the international break.