Joe Express beat Polokwane Academy 5-4 in their opening match of the Nedbank Cup at the Nkowankowa Stadium in Tzaneen on Sunday to book a place in the final of the group stages.

Academy were strong in the midfield for the better part of the first half, but their strikers let them down by fumbling at the goal finish on numerous occasions.

Joe Express’s performance grew better with time. They were the first to find the net. Their sharpshooter, Thembisani Nevhulamba, was on target in the 19th minute. Nevhulamba gave the ball a final touch, following a scramble within the box. Express increased the margin in the 35th minute. Nevhulamba completed his brace with a long-range ground cutter.

Things turned against Express soon afterwards. Their centre forward, Moses Mafela, was given his marching orders for swearing at the referee, Mr Calvin Nemavhola. Sello Matjila of Academy was booked for a dangerous tackle towards the end of the first half.

Polokwane Acadeny missed numerous scoring chances in the opening minutes of the last stanza. This after Express lost shape in the middle of the park. Academy pulled one back in the 64th minute. Sakhile Ngubo beat the keeper with a header after a corner kick. Bongani Nxumalo of Academy also saw red in the 69th minute. He tackled Ndivhuwo Ravhuhali off the ball.

Joe Express started to play defensive football as if victory was certain. They were severely punished when Sandile Khoza scored the equalizer six minutes before the end of the regulation time. The winner was determined through penalty shootout. Joe Express converted three of their five chances while Academy scored only two.

Joe Express lost 1-4 to Bellevue Winners Park in their group-stage match at the same venue later that afternoon.