Kaizer Chiefs booked their place in the final of the 2009 Vodacom Challenge after a dramatic 4-3 penalty shoot-out win over Orlando Pirates at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Thursday evening.

The match finished 1-1 in regulation time and both sides had chances early in the shoot-out to win the game, but there were eventually 14 spot-kicks taken as both sides contrived to miss theirs.

Chiefs will now go forward to meet English Premiership side Manchester City in the final of the competition at the Loftus Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 15h00)

The goals came from Josta Dladla, who opened the scoring for Chiefs, before Josephy Kamwendo got the equaliser for Pirates. Knowledge Musona robbed Rooi Mahamutsa of the ball and was clear on goal early on, but a lack of pace from the striker saw the Chiefs defence recover and the danger was cleared. But the Amakhosi did have the lead after 10 minutes when the excellent Abia Nale won the ball and put Dladla through. The attacking midfielder coolly slotted home past the helpless Moeneeb Joseph in the Pirates goal. It was the second goal Dladla had scored in the new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in a couple of weeks after netting against League champions SuperSport United in the Eastern Cape Premiers Cup final as well. Musona again tested Josephs soon afterwards with a 25-yard shot, but this time it close enough to the goalkeeper for him to make the save. Katlego Mashego had a snap-shot at the other end that was comfortable for Itumeleng Khune, while Mandla Masango forced another fine save from Josephs, who tipped his dipping effort from the edge of the area over the bar. Ndumiso Mabena claimed he was tripped in the penalty-area when through on goal, but it appeared he had already lost the ball with a heavy touch and referee Jerome Damon waved play on, saying there was no contact. Pirates did hit back on 30 minutes when Kamwendo was played onside with the Chiefs defence labouring and, just like the first goal, was able to slot past the exposed goalkeeper to level the score. Blaise Kiaku received a yellow card for an overzealous tackle, while Nale struck a powerful shot from 25-yards that Josephs beat away, but there was no Chiefs player on hand to knock home the rebound.

Pirates brought on Siphelele Mthembu and Lucky Lekgwathi for Ndumiso Mabena and Innocent Mdledla respectively at the break, while Chiefs introduced Reneilwe Letsholonyane for David Mathebula. Letsholonyane lasted just seven minutes on the pitch before injury forced him off and he was replaced by Gerald Sibeko. Phenyo Mongale had the first shot of the half as he curled an effort goalwards from 18-yards, but it was straight into the midriff of Khune, before Pirates made third change, bringing on Bafana Bafana midfielder Benson Mhlongo for Kiaku, who looked off the pace of the game all evening.

The changes kept on coming in the form of Venezuelan international Jose Torrealba, who replaced Musona on the hour-mark, and then the moment the Pirates fans were waiting for as Teko Modise was brought on for Mongale two minutes later.

The second half did not quite have the fire of the first and both teams struggled to create chances as passes went astray and crosses were over-hit. Dikgang Mabalane was played through down the right by Mhlongo with five minutes of ordinary time remaining, but as with much of the second period, his square-ball for Modise was off-target. Substitute Bennet Chenene hit a free-kick into the side-netting, but Khune had it covered anyway and it seemed inevitable the game would go to penalties.

Khune thought he has saved Chenene’s penalty, but Damon ruled, quite rightly that he had moved forward off his line. However, Khune repeated the save and this time the result stood.

But Josephs hit back with a save of his own to deny Torrealba, while Khune got a hand to Mahamutsa’s effort, but the ball still found its way into the top corner.

Zwane had his effort saved and Lekgwathi hit the outside of the post with his as neither team could take the initiative.

Amazingly, Josephs almost won the game for Pirates when he got a strong save to Nale’s spot-kick, but the ball bounced up, spun back and trickled over the lines as the shoot-out went to sudden death.

Khune saved Mabalane’s effort, but Damon once again ordered a re-take, which this time looked harsh. However, Mabalane lost his nerve and blasted the ball well over the bar.

But with the chance to win the game, Gerald Sibeko hit the crossbar as the unbelievable drama continued. There was more when Mhlongo couldn’t hit the target either, but the game was finally won when Thabang Rooi slotted his penalty home

Penalty sequence: Thwala scores, Ntuka scores; Chenene saved, Torrealba saved; Mahamutsa scores, Zwane saved; Lekgwathi misses, Dladla scores; Modise scores, Nale scores; Mabalane misses, Sibeko misses; Mhlongo misses, Rooi scores

Pirates: 16. Moeneeb Josephs – 26. Rooi Mahamutsa, 32. Lucas Thwala, 17. Lehlohonolo Seema, 19. Innocent Mdledla (14. Lucky Lekgwathi 46th) – 5. Dikgang Mabalane, 3. Blaise Kiaku (2. Benson Mhlongo 57th), 7. Josephy Kamwendo (36. Oupa Manyisa 76th), 8. Phenyo Mongale (11. Teko Modise 62nd) – 21. Katlego Mashego (42. Bennet Chenene 80th), 34. Ndumiso Mabena (40. Siphelele Mthembu 46th)

Chiefs: 32. Itumeleng Khune – 28. Lawrence Molekwane, 3. Thomas Sweswe (4. Thabang Rooi 75th), 33. Jeffrey Ntuka, 31. Punch Masenamela – 22. Mandla Masango (18. Arthur Zwane 88th), 8. Tinashe Nengomasha, 24. David Mathebula (6. Reneilwe Letsholonyane 46th) [27. Gerald Sibeko 53rd], 11. Abia Nale – 9. Josta Dladla – 21. Knowledge Musona (77. Jose Torrealba 60th)

Referee: Jerome Damon

Yellow card: Blaise Kiaku 34, Bennet Chenene 90; Lawrence Molekwane 63