Carling Knockout, Last 16 | 24 October 2026
Polokwane City’s Carling Knockout dream ended in the cruellest fashion on Friday night, as Siwelele FC edged them 4-3 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium. Rise and Shine had the better of the argument for long stretches — and spent the final quarter of an hour with a man advantage — yet could not find the breakthrough that their play deserved. When the tie went to spot-kicks, it was Siwelele who held their nerve to march into the quarter-finals, where they will chase a first-ever Carling Knockout crown. For Polokwane, it was a night of fine margins that fell the wrong way.
A Stalemate That Refused To Break
For all the territory and endeavour, neither side could prise the other open across regulation and extra time. The contest tightened further in the 107th minute when Siwelele’s Aphiwe Baliti was shown a second yellow and sent off, handing Polokwane a numerical edge for the closing stages. But a tiring, stretched game produced more half-chances than clear ones, and the deadlock held all the way to the shootout — a frustrating outcome for a City side that had done enough to feel they should have settled matters before penalties.
The Shootout That Got Away
From twelve yards the drama was unforgiving. Tidimalo Molokwane saw his effort kept out, and — in the kind of moment that sticks with a team — goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke was also unable to convert when his turn came in the sequence. Those two misses proved decisive as Siwelele converted when it mattered to seal a 4-3 win on penalties. A one-kick margin was all that separated the sides after more than two hours of football, and it tilted away from Polokwane.
What It Means
The exit closes off one of City’s cup avenues for the season and sharpens the focus back onto the Betway Premiership grind. Having also fallen to a late Siwelele goal in the league only days earlier, Rise and Shine will be eager to turn the page quickly, with a league trip to TS Galaxy on 31 October offering the next chance to rebuild momentum. Cup football is unforgiving, and this was a reminder of how little stands between progress and a long drive home.
