Richards Bay FC booked their spot in the 2021 Nedbank Cup quarterfinals with a 2-1 comeback win over TS Sporting at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Sunday afternoon.
Khanyisa Mayo scored a late brace for the Natal Rich Boyz following Decide Chauke’s opener to stretch the KwaZulu-Natal team’s unbeaten run in all competitions to 13 matches, while they remain unbeaten in games against Sporting.
Richards Bay were denied what seemed to be a clear-cut penalty in the 19th minute after Jabulani Dhladhla hacked down Lwandile Mabuya inside the area, but as is often the case these things even themselves out, as Sporting too had reason to feel aggrieved on the cusp of halftime.
Chawanangwa Kaonga beat goalkeeper Malcolm Jacobs to the ball before being clattered by the Richards Bay shot-stopper in the air, but again the referee saw nothing wrong.
Abantu Bemthetho opened the scoring in the 72nd minute as Chauke nodded home at the back post from a corner-kick. His header bounced off the turf and proved too powerful for Jacobs who palmed the ball into the back of the net.
Richards Bay got their penalty in the 77th minute after Matome Mabeba was adjudged to have fouled Mabuya inside the area and Mayo made no mistake to continue his good run of form in front of goal.
The former South Africa youth international then scored the winner with four minutes of regulation time remaining, as he curled an exquisite left-footed free-kick past Abram Ngcobo to book the Natal Rich Boyz’s place in the next round.
TS Sporting (0) 1 (Chauke 72′)
Richards Bay FC (0) 2 (Mayo pen. 77′ 86′)
TS Sporting: Ngcobo; Dhladhla, Maphosa, Lebahi, Moyo, Malope (Amoojee 54′), Wagaba (Mabeba 55′), April, Chauke, Sithole (Mokate 90+2′), Kaonga (Mbatha 75′).
Richards Bay FC: Jacobs; Mabua, Dube, Zulu, Maphathe, Mtolo, Mthembu, Mabuya, Mayo, Hlongwa (Ogbonna 46′), Ntsundwana (Sekese 73′).© Backpage TXT.
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
