Mixed weekend for Nedbank Cup semi-finalists with three wins and a record loss
PIC: Samkelo Maseko scored for Durban City in their victory over Richards Bay
It was a mixed weekend for the four Nedbank Cup semi-finalists with a record victory and a record defeat as they now enter a break in action for the FIFA international window.
The semi-final line-up will see Durban City host second-tier Casric Stars at Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday, 4 April (kick-off 15h00), while TS Galaxy welcome another second-tier side, Milford FC, to Solomon Mahlangu Stadium on Sunday, 5 April (15h00).
The teams have now played their last fixtures before those encounters, as we look back at how they fared over the weekend.
CASRIC STARS
Casric Stars gave their promotion push a huge boost with an emphatic 4-0 home victory over Kruger United in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
The win was all the more important as Kruger are one of Casric’s rivals for automatic promotion in what was a real ‘six-pointer’ at Solomon Mahlangu Stadium.
Casric raced into a 3-0 half-time lead thanks to goals from Mfundo Thikazi, Leletu Skelem and Mlungisi Zwane. Simon Moukete added a late fourth to give the scoreline a more emphatic look.
The victory moves Casric to fourth place, two points behind division leaders Milford FC.
DURBAN CITY
Durban City claimed a provincial derby win when they beat Richards Bay 1-0 in their Betway Premiership clash on Sunday.
The only goal of the game was scored by Samkelo Maseko, his fourth of the season in all competitions, as promoted City climbed to fifth in the table.
It was also another clean sheet for the side, who have conceded just one goal in the Nedbank Cup this campaign, and only 15 in 22 league games.
They are an incredibly difficult team to break down, with three of their last four Nedbank Cup ties finishing 0-0.
MILFORD FC
Milford FC recorded the biggest victory in the club’s history as a professional outfit when they thumped Baroka FC 5-0 at the Richards Bay Sports Stadium on Saturday.
The win took them back to the top of the Motsepe Foundation Championship, albeit on goal difference ahead of Kruger United.
It also showed their prowess in front of goal as they ran rampant, while they could also celebrate another clean sheet heading into their clash with Galaxy.
TS GALAXY
It was a horror day for Galaxy, in stark contrast to the joy of Milford, as they slipped to the heaviest defeat in their history, losing 6-0 to Orlando Pirates in a league match in Mbombela on Sunday.
Galaxy were not helped by a red card inside four minutes for right-back Lentswe Motaung, which will rule him out of their Nedbank Cup semi-final through suspension.
That put them on the back foot and Pirates took advantage in ruthless fashion.
Relebohile Mofokeng scored a hat-trick to go with an own goal by Mlungisi Mbunjana and strikes from Tshepang Moremi and Kamogelo Sebelebele.
The latter was a Galaxy player up to the start of this season.
There will be no panic at the club; they will likely chalk it down to a bad day at the office, but it is not the ideal result to take into a Nedbank Cup semi-final.
They do, at least, have two weeks to rectify things.