Mamelodi Sundowns beat Maritzburg United 2-0 in a game that was held up for an hour due to lightning and TS Galaxy defeated third-tier D’General as both topflight sides advanced to the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup on Sunday.
It took Sundowns a while to find the back of the net against a stubborn Maritzburg, but they eventually got the breakthrough on 74 minutes. Bongani Zungu’s pass was perfect for Thembinkosi Lorch and his control was exemplary as he turned and rifled the ball into the roof of the net.
He added a second deep into injury-time at the end of the game, sweeping home at the back post.
It is a ninth career Nedbank Cup goal for Lorch, who scored two for Maluti FET College, five for Orlando Pirates, including three in helping them lift the title last season, and now two for Sundowns. In all he has 20 goals in cup competitions.
The latest kid off the conveyor belt of talent at Sundowns is 17-year-old attacking midfielder Kutlwano Letlhaku. He has been tearing it up in the Diski team and was given his chance for a professional bow in the second half, coming on just before Sundowns scored.
He looks to have pace and skill and has clearly made a big impression coach Rulani Mokwena.
Despite it not quite being the FIFA window yet, Sundowns decided to mostly leave out most of their Bafana Bafana players as the national team heads to Algeria, where they will take on their hosts and Andorra in friendly matches this week.
There was no Teboho Mokwena, Themba Zwane, Aubrey Modiba or Grant Kekana, while Thapelo Morena and Terrence Mashego were on the bench.
Interestingly, Khuliso Mudau, not selected for Bafana due to injury, started, while Mothobi Mvala, also an injury absentee from the national team, was on the bench.
TS Galaxy breezed into the quarterfinals with a 3-0 victory at third-tier D’General, who proved game opponents but could not match the DStv Premiership side’s quality.
Samir Nurkovic, Sphiwe Mahlangu and new signing Mlungisi Zwane with a debut goal were on target for the visitors.
Galaxy reach the quarterfinals for the first time since they lifted the trophy as a second-tier side in 2019.
The quarterfinal draw will take place on Monday evening at 18h00 and will be live on SuperSport2.
The eight teams remaining in the competition are Sundowns, Galaxy, University of Pretoria, AmaZulu, Stellenbosch FC, Chippa United, SuperSport United and defending champions Orlando Pirates. AmaTuks are the only team from outside the topflight who remain.
LAST 16 RESULTS
Wednesday, March 13
University of Pretoria 2 (Mohlamonyane 58’, Sibanyoni 90’) Moroka Swallows 1 (Mbanjwa 79’)
Thursday, March 14
Sekhukhune United 0 AmaZulu FC 2 (Dion 26’, Letsoalo 62’)
Friday, March 15
Milford FC 1 (Chili 45’) Stellenbosch FC 6 (Titus 20’, Oura 34’, 45’, De Jong 46’, 48’, Boji 88’)
Saturday, March 16
Chippa United 2 (Makhele 81’, Mbenyane 108’) FC Ravens 1 (Ngcungama 5’)
After extra-time
Richards Bay 1 (Mthethwa 85’) SuperSport United 3 (Campbell 6’, 44’, Lungu 90’)
Orlando Pirates 4 (Monaheng 21og, Mabasa 66’, 90’, Saleng 72’) Hungry Lions 0
Sunday, March 17
D’General 0 TS Galaxy 3 (Nurkovic 33’, Mahlangu 42’, Zwane 50’)
Mamelodi Sundowns 2 (Lorch 74’, 90’) Maritzburg United 0
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 24
Goals Scored: 68
Biggest Victory: Crystal Lake 0 Orlando Pirates 6 (February 24, Last 32)
Most Goals in a Game: 7 – NB La Masia 1 Mamelodi Sundowns 6 (February 20, Last 32); Milford 1 Stellenbosch FC 6 (March 15, Last 16)
GOALSCORERS
3 goals – Shandre Campbell (SuperSport United), Tshegofatso Mabasa (Orlando Pirates), Gaston Sirino (Mamelodi Sundowns)
2 – Andre de Jong (Stellenbosch FC), Thulani Gumede (Richards Bay), Thembinkosi Lorch (Mamelodi Sundowns), Anicet Oura (Stellenbosch FC), Devin Titus (Stellenbosch FC), Tapelo Xoki (Orlando Pirates)
1 – Delano Abrahams (University of Pretoria), Emilio Abreu (Highlands Park), Mervin Boji (Stellenbosch FC), Bantu Chingi (Maritzburg United), Katlego Cwinyane (Hungry Lions), Leandro de Sousa (Pretoria Callies), Sede Dion (AmaZulu), Pule Ekstein (AmaZulu), Matias Esquivel (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bienvenu Eva Nga (Chippa United), Justice Figuareido (Richards Bay), Kayden Francis (Chippa United), Fuad Johnson (NB La Masia), Victor Letsoalo (AmaZulu), Ghampani Lungu (SuperSport United), Lebogang Maboe (Mamelodi Sundowns), Sphiwe Mahlangu (TS Galaxy), Thabo Makhele (Chippa United), Tladi Makhetha (D’General), Douglas Mapfumo (Polokwane City), Terrence Mashego (Mamelodi Sundowns), Patrick Maswanganyi (Orlando Pirates), Tholo Matuludi (Polokwane City), Khanyisa Mayo (Cape Town City), Lwanda Mbanjwa (Moroka Swallows), Andile Mbenyane (Chippa United), Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates), Tebogo Mohlamonyane (University of Pretoria), Lehlohonolo Mojela (TS Galaxy), Lehlohonolo Morobi (NC Professionals), Sibusiso Mthethwa (Richards Bay), Nkosibonile Mtolo (FC Ravens), Mpho Mvelase (TS Galaxy), Samkelo Ngcungama (FC Ravens), Vuyani Ntanga (Spain FC), Samir Nurkovic (TS Galaxy), Monnapule Saleng (Orlando Pirates), Thabang Sibanyoni (University of Pretoria), Charles Sikhosana (D’General), Andiswa Sithole (Maritzburg United), Reagan van der Ross (Maritzburg United), Tresor Yamba (Sekhukhune United), Mlungisi Zwane (TS Galaxy)
Own goals – Adam Khumalo (Crystal Lake), Solomon Letsoenyo (TS Galaxy), Morena Monaheng (Hungry Lions)
SOURCED FROM THE NEDBANK CUP WEBSITE.
