Sekhukhune United 0
Cape Town City (0) 1
Gonzalez 86 pen
POLOKWANE - Extra time loomed large in this MTN8 quarter-final clash but Darwin Gonzalez was in no mood for an extra half-hour in Polokwane.
The Venezuelan displayed nerves of steel to take a second penalty late in the match after missing one in the first half.
And amidst loud booing from the partisan home crowd, Gonzalez smashed home what turned out to be the only goal of the match as he sent Sekhukhune goalkeeper Badra Sangare the wrong way.
The celebrations were expectedly wild by The Citizens who now join Orlando Pirates and their fellow Capetonians Stellenbosch FC in this afternoon’s semi-final draw.
Gonzalez had spurned a glorious chance to help City take the lead five minutes before the break when he missed a penalty kick. He smashed his attempt against the crossbar with Sangare helpless.
Earlier the City attacker had shot inches wide of the goal as the visitors looked to make their dominance count against the hosts whose new coach Peter Hyballa was not on the bench.
There had been reports prior to the match that the Dutch-German was about to be fired but his absence yesterday was apparently due to him still waiting for a work permit, although the club did not make any official statement on both.
In his absence MacDonald Makhubedu took charge of the team that looked rough around the edges still as they huffed and puffed about without really looking likely to hurt City.
Keletso Makgalwa came closest for them in the first half when he shot inches wide off target from inside the box.
Their other chance came late in the match but captain Linda Mntambo headed wide on 83 minutes.
Shortly after that Siphesihle Mkhize handled the ball inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot.
The big question was who would take it and Gonzalez bravely stepped forward to make amends for the first half failure.
The home fans booed him like they did in the first half, hoping to unsettle the Venezuelan, but Gonzalez sent Sangare the wrong way to put City into the semi-final.
The draw for the two-legged semi-finals will be made this afternoon after the last quarter-final between league champions Mamelodi Sundowns and Polokwane City.
City are one of the clubs who have won the MTN8 in the recent past.