PIC: Orlando Pirates were beaten on penalties by Casric Stars

Both Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns have exited the 2026 Nedbank Cup on a dramatic day in the Last 16, with the Buccaneers beaten on penalties by second-tier Casric Stars and the Brazilians losing at TS Galaxy.

The exit of the two tournament favourites opens up the field for a new champion this year, with current holders Kaizer Chiefs having gone out in the first round.

Both sets of coaches will be desperately disappointed, with Pirates hoping for a fourth successive Nedbank Cup final, but in truth they did not do enough at Orlando Stadium.

They could not be separated from Stars after 120 minutes in a game of few chances, requiring what turned into a dramatic penalty shoot-out.

Nkosinathi Sibisi missed Pirates’ first spot-kick and Stars had been proficient until Manqoba Ozoemena stepped up to take their fourth kick, but was too elaborate and put his effort wide of the post.

When Pirates’ Mpho Chabatsane put his effort over the bar, Stars had the chance to win it, but Mfundo Thikazi saw his penalty saved by Sipho Chaine.

Nkosikhona Ndaba missed again for Pirates to give Stars another chance for victory, which Zebulon Mtshweni took to seal a 5-4 win.

Galaxy sprung a major surprise with a 2-0 victory over Sundowns in their Last 16 clash at a sold-out Solomon Mahlangu Stadium, the first time the Brazilians have exited the competition before the quarter-finals since 2019.

Galaxy were full value for their win as teenager Siphamandla Ngwenya scored on debut and Junior Zindoga added a second from the penalty spot.

Galaxy have a love affair with the Nedbank Cup – they famously lifted the trophy in 2019 as a second-tier side when they defeated Chiefs in the final thanks to Zakhele Lepasa’s late penalty.

The Rockets remain the only second-tier side to lift the cup, and have since become regulars in the top flight, providing what remains one of the toughest away days for teams. And so it proved again for Sundowns, who are now winless in their last four visits to Galaxy (D2 L2).

That includes their only other meeting in a knockout match, when Galaxy won on penalties in the Carling Knockout in 2023.

Galaxy took the lead on Saturday after 19 minutes and it was a special moment for Ngwenya. Divine Lunga coughed up possession and the teenager raced through the centre before beating Denis Onyango in the Sundowns goal with a low shot into the corner.

Ngwenya had joined Galaxy in December from East High Academy but could only be registered this week after a FIFA transfer ban on Galaxy was lifted.

It was 2-0 just past the half-hour mark as Galaxy were awarded a clear penalty, for which Sundowns could have no complaints.

Winger Seluleko Mahlambi took on Sundowns left-back Thato Sibiya in the box and the 19-year-old made an ill-timed tackle in which he failed to win the ball. Zindoga stepped up to convert the spot-kick.

Durban City needed penalties for the second round in a row as they advanced at the expense of second-tier Upington City, who finished the game with 10 men after a red card for Mario Visagie in their hard-fought 0-0 draw at the Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium in Upington.

The home side missed all four of their penalties in the shoot-out, and Durban City advanced 2-0.

They had also played to a 0-0 draw in the previous round and beat Chippa United on spot-kicks.

Lamontville Golden Arrows overcame Stellenbosch FC with a 1-0 win, with the visitors also finishing with 10 men.

Angelo van Rooi gave Abafana Bes’thende the lead on 66 minutes with a fine finish for his second goal in this year’s Nedbank Cup after he also netted in the 3-0 win over Orbit College in the previous round.

Stellenbosch lost Thabo Moloisane to a second yellow card in the final 10 minutes.

The Durban club are into their first Nedbank Cup quarter-final since 2019, when they reached the last four.

NEDBANK CUP LAST 16 FIXTURES/RESULTS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20

Richards Bay 0 AmaZulu 1 (Ekstein 54’)

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21

Upington City 0 Durban City 0 – aet; Durban City won 2-0 on penalties

TS Galaxy 2 (Ngwenya 19’, Zindoga 32’pen) Mamelodi Sundowns 0

Lamontville Golden Arrows 1 (Van Rooi 66’)  Stellenbosch FC 0

Orlando Pirates 0 Casric Stars 0 – aet; Stars won 5-4 on penalties

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22

15h00: Milford FC vs Mkhambathi FC – uMhlathuze Sports Complex

15h00: Jacksa Spears vs CR Vasco da Gama – Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium
15h00: University of Pretoria vs Sekhukhune United – Tuks Stadium

TOURNAMENT STATISTICS
Matches played: 21
Goals scored: 50

Goals per game: 2.38

Biggest victory: CR Vasco da Gama 4 Luthuli Brigades 1 (Last 32, February 6); TTM 1 Orlando Pirates 3 (Last 32, February 7); Army Rocket 0 Casric Stars 3 (Last 32, February 7); Lamontville Golden Arrows 3 Orbit College 0 (Last 32, February 8)

Most goals in a game: 6 – FC Cardinals 2 Jacksa Spears 4 (Last 32, February 7); Siwelele 3 Richards Bay 3 (Last 32, February 8)

GOALSCORERS

2 goals – TJ Diedericks (CR Vasco da Gama), Lundi Mahala (Richards Bay), Moeti Mofokeng (Jacksa Spears), Thuso Mogale (Casric Stars)
1 – Yannick Angoume (Hungry Lions), Andre de Jong (Orlando Pirates), Tauriq Dien (CR Vasco da Gama), Sede Dion (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Taariq Fielies (AmaZulu), Ibraheem Jabaar (Stellenbosch FC), Ofentse Kgosana (Casric Stars), Victor Letsoalo (TS Galaxy), Siphelele Luthuli (Siwelele), Grant Margeman (Siwelele), Sheldon Mashuge (Jacksa Spears), Patrick Maswanganyi (Orlando Pirates), Ayabulela Maxwele (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Thalente Mbatha (Orlando Pirates), Sipho Mbule (Orlando Pirates), Kgotso Mizi (Cardinals), Ntshuxeko Mkhabela (Luthuli Brigades), Ntuthuko Mlotshwa (Lerumo Lions), Mpho Moake (Gomora United), Bradley Mojela (Sekhukhune United), Thapelo Morena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Mehluleli Ndelu (Mkhambathi), Sifiso Mdluli (Milford FC), Sithembiso Ngobe (TTM), Siphamandla Ngwenya (TS Galaxy), Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya (AmaZulu), Lebohang Nkaki (Polokwane City), Bongumusa Nkosi (University of Pretoria), Michel Phigeland (CR Vasco da Gama), Bokamoso Seretsi (Jacksa Spears), Peter Shalulile (Mamelodi Sundowns), Flávio Silva (Kaizer Chiefs), Devin Titus (Stellenbosch FC), Katleho Tshabalala (Cardinals), Thapelo Tshilo (SSU M17), Angelo van Rooi (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Junior Zindoga (TS Galaxy), Xolani Zondo (Mkhambathi), Sbangani Zulu (Richards Bay)
Own goal - Thabani Zuke (Richards Bay)