Ngwenani Young Chiefs booked a place in the semifinal stage of the Vhembe Mayor's Cup Tournament.

They beat Mutandani Pull Together 2-1 in their quarterfinal match at the packed Makwarela Stadium on Saturday.

Pull Together could have sealed the game within the first 20 minutes. Their veteran striker, Nathaniel Maise, sent a beautiful cross from the left corner, but Thuso Mangenge, who was in the perfect scoring position, shot wildly from the penalty area.

That was a wakeup call to Young Chiefs. They took the game to their opponents soon afterwards. Realizing that pressure was mounting over time, Pull Together replaced Thuso Mangenge with Mukovhe Maila in the 27th minute.

The keeper of Pull Together, Rendani Masindi, advanced outside the penalty area, where he handled the ball. The referee reprimanded him with a yellow card and awarded Young Chiefs a free kick just outside the box. Thembuluwo Mbave scored from the free kick to give his side a 1-0 half-time lead.

Pull Together effected two more changes to their original lineup in the second half.

They introduced Phuluso Ndou and Shonisani Raphalalani for Ndamulelo Mulovhedzi and Tendani Mufamadi respectively. Young Chiefs were awarded another free kick outside the box in the 67th minute. Eric Mangenzhane tried his luck from the free kick. The ball hit the crossbar and deflected across the goal line. Eric Mangenzhane of Young Chiefs went into the referee’s book for wasting time .

Pull Together did not give in, despite the fact that time was not on their side. They continued to play like a team. They pulled one back through Phumudzo Nemutandani, seven minutes before the end of the game.