Bucs and Downs’ dreams live on
Chippa United, Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch are through to the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup.
Mamelodi Sundowns’ dream of a quadruple of trophies to add to its cabinet continues to live on and so does Orlando Pirates’ quest to defend the Nedbank Cup.
Both teams have booked their spot in the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup along with Stellenbosch and Chippa United/TS Galaxy. Downs are chasing a quadruple in the form of the Nedbank Cup, the DStv Premiership championship and the Caf Champions League.
The Tshwane outfit currently has a comfortable pole position at the summit of the premiership. It is destined for its seventh consecutive lifting of the trophy come the end of the season in May while it is also in the semis of the Caf Champions League.
On April 12, Masandawana secured a slender 1-0 victory over the Motsepe Foundation Championship side AmaTuks in the Nedbank Cup through a controversial penalty from the boot of Brazilian star Lucas Ribeiro.
The Buccaneers on the other hand cruised to the semis – of the ‘Davids versus Goliaths Cup’ as the Nedbank Cup has come to be popularly known for its infusion of lower division sides in this quest to find glory in this tournament – with a hard-fought 4-2 win over a stubborn AmaZulu.
Pirates twice came from behind to level the scoring and finally clinch victory in this game which many had thought might go the Usuthu way, purely on the strength and sheer determination of its winger Hendrick Ekstein.
Ekstein could have easily netted a hattrick for his side had all his goal attempts rattled the back of the net. He was the pillar of the side, along with his no-nonsense stalwart defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele, who thwarted numerous Bucs’ attempts to get past him. He stood firm and cleared the ball off the goal line at one stage.
The Stellies, as Stellenbosch is known to its avid fans, put four goals past a hapless Gavin Hunt-coached SuperSport United that failed even to post a consolation goal in the game.
In the Chippa United versus TS Galaxy game, the Chillies emerged victorious with a 2-0 scoreline to advance to the semi-finals.
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