A thrilling weekend of Nedbank Cup action saw Kaizer Chiefs advance to the semi-finals at the expense of Cape Town City, while Chippa United stunned Bidvest Wits in an eight-goal thriller, writes DEAN WORKMAN.
Cape Umoya United 1-2 TS Galaxy
The last two teams from the National First Division (NFD) clashed in the first game of the quarter-finals last Wednesday.
The home-side got off to a good start as Katlego Otladisa fired them into the lead with just 14 minutes gone in the encounter.
Dan Malisela’s team, however, hit back on the stroke of half time Zakhele Lepasa levelled the scores.
The game then looked to be heading to extra-time until Sizwe Mdlinzo grabbed the winner for the visitors in the 88th minute to book his sides spot in the semi-finals.
Hugs and high fives were the order of the evening as TS Galaxy defeated Cape Umoya in the Nedbank Cup semi finals last night!
An emotional victory for the boys as they had to fight to come back from 1 – 0 and win the game in the dying stages!
Halala maRockets, nidumuze kuhle pic.twitter.com/5ACF0KNUrS
— TS Galaxy FC (@TSGALAXYFC) March 28, 2019
Bloemfontein Celtic 1-2 Golden Arrows
Steve Komphela travelled down to Bloemfontein to face his former employers with a spot in the semi-finals up for grabs.
After a tight first half the game sparked into life in the 70th minute as Knox Mutizwa gave Arrows the lead.
Celtic, however, weren’t going to lie down and levelled matters 10 minutes before time as Bongani Sam bundled the ball over the line.
The game looked destined for an additional 30 minutes until Arrows were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position heading into injury-time.
Mutizwa stepped up and expertly placed his shot into the bottom right hand corner to send his side into the semi’s.
BIG Shout out to our Green and Gold Army, Our 12th man, Our amazing supporters who came down to support us this afternoon. Your support and spirit did wonders for the boys today! Thank you ?? ??? Aaaarooooows pic.twitter.com/fXoVcalPT8
— Golden Arrows FC (@goldenarrowsfc1) March 30, 2019
Bidvest Wits 4-4 Chippa United
The Chilli Boys may be fighting relegation in the Absa Premiership, but they got off to the perfect start in their quarter-final clash against the title chasing Wits side as Andile Mbenyane opened the scoring with just four minutes gone.
Wits though weren’t behind for long as top goal scorer Gift Motupa equalised in the 21st minute.
Terrance Dzvukamanja then put Gavin Hunt’s team in the lead in first half injury time as Wits looked in control at the break.
Chippa, however, weren’t throwing in the towel and found their equaliser as Boikanyo Komane fired home from a penalty spot.
Wits must have thought they were through to the semi’s when Dzvukamanja got his second and his side’s third with eight minutes to play, but Ruzaigh Gamildien sent the game into extra time with a leveller in the 91st minute.
The action continued in the additional 30 minutes as Rhulani Manzini gave Chippa the lead in the 95th minute only for Wits to find an equaliser 14 minutes later through Deon Hotto.
Penalties were needed to separate the two teams where Chippa claimed the 5-4 victory to advance to the final four.
The #chillifire is real ?? #NedbankCup pic.twitter.com/q8w2LszjPS
— Chippa United FC (@ChippaUnitedFC) March 30, 2019
Kaizer Chiefs 2-0 Cape Town City
Benni McCarthy’s side may be one of the form teams in the Absa Premiership but faced a Chiefs team desperate for silverware.
Amakhosi took the lead with 30 minutes as Hendrick Ekstein got on the scoresheet as Chiefs dominated the first stanza, leading 1-0 at the break.
Dumisani Zuma then doubled Chiefs’ lead 10 minutes after the restart as he got on the end of a well delivered set play.
Try as they might City couldn’t find a way back into the game as Ernst Middendorp’s men move onto the semi-finals.
Thank you for the amazing support today, Amakhosi Family. To the semi-final we go! ❤️&✌️#HailTheChief #Amakhosi4Life #NedbankCup pic.twitter.com/lq9F9QRcrJ
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) March 31, 2019
Semi-final Draw:
The semi-final draw took place straight after the Chiefs vs CT City encounter and will see the Soweto giants travel to the Eastern Cape to face Chippa United. While Golden Arrows will welcome TS Galaxy in the second semi-final.
Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix