Siya Masuku kicked an overtime penalty in Parma on Sunday to book the Cheetahs’ place in the Challenge Cup playoffs and eliminate Pau.
Masuku kicked the decisive penalty after the hooter as the Cheetahs beat Pau 9-6 to advance to the round of 16.
The first score of the game came in the 23rd-minute when Masuku slotted a penalty after scrumhalf Rewan Kruger was sacked at the base of a ruck.
The Cheetahs’ lead was short-lived as Pau flyhalf Thibault Debaes equalised with a penalty six minutes later.
Nearing the end of a bruising first half, referee Federico Vedovellia adjudged Jeandre Rudolph to be off his feet while attempting a steal, and a deliberate slap down of the ball soon after earned Cheetahs No 8 a yellow card.
Debaes missed with the resulting shot at goal before Masuku missed one of his own and the teams had to settle for a 3-3 stalemate at the break.
Debaes slotted his second penalty of the match four minutes into the second half to give Pau the lead for the first time.
In the 20 minutes that followed, the Cheetahs survived an onslaught from Pau as the Free Staters were camped in their own 22. Against the run of play, it was Masuku who scored next, kicking a penalty to make it 6-6 in the 65th minute.
Needing a victory where a draw would suffice for Pau, an 82nd-minute penalty presented Masuku with an opportunity to kick the Cheetahs to victory and into the playoffs.
The 26-year-old did just that, nailing the long-distance effort to break Pau’s heart and snatch a 9-6 victory for the Cheetahs in Parma.
Siya Masuku ????? the kick! ?@CheetahsRugby are through to the Round of 16 and look what it means ❤️ #ChallengeCupRugby pic.twitter.com/xP84bf96R6
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) January 22, 2023
Flyhalf Siya Masuku slots an 82nd-minute penalty goal to send the @CheetahsRugby into the #ChallengeCupRugby Round of 16! #CHEvPAU pic.twitter.com/NbAOu7Pizr
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) January 22, 2023
Photo: Twitter/@CheetahsRugby