Ng’ambi scores, but Platinum lose final

Flames midfield star Robert Ng’ambi opened the score for his South African club Platinum Stars against SuperSport United, but they failed to defend the Telekom Knockout Cup after going down 3-2 in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Ng’ambi, who was the tournament’s best player last year, drew first blood in the 28th minute after being set by Mokogolodi Mbele.

But eight minutes later, SuperSport levelled the score from the penalty spot through Clayton Daniels after David Mathebula was adjudged to have been fouled.

To extra time it went, and the showdown was suddenly injected with a dose of drama, according to kickoff.com.

Then SuperSport surged ahead in the 102nd minute, again through a penalty that was converted by Daniels, but a minute later Mbele equalised.

And just when the fans thought the match would go into the dreaded penalty shoot-out, Thuso Phala claimed the winner for SuperSport in the 111th minute.

Ng’ambi described the loss as painful.

“It was a very tough game, but somehow the referee aided our opponents by awarding them two penalties.

“As the match progressed in extra time, it was clear that both teams were physically drained and SuperSport made use of the chance they created. It is very painful that we failed to defend the cup at the last hurdle, but I guess it is part of the game,” said Ng’ambi.