PIC: Ben Motshwari of AmaZulu is challenged by Miguel Timm of Orlando Pirates

Stellenbosch FC and Orlando Pirates booked their berths in the semifinals of the Nedbank Cup after they won contrasting quarterfinal ties on Saturday.
Stellenbosch thumped SuperSport United 4-0, while Pirates were involved in a six-goal thriller in Durban against AmaZulu.
They go into Sunday’s draw for the last-4, along with Mamelodi Sundowns and the winner of the final quarterfinal tie between TS Galaxy and Chippa United, that will be played at the Mbombela Stadium before the draw.

Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Pule Ekstein opened the scoring for AmaZulu after he profited from a terrible piece of defending from Pirates’ Deon Hotto.

The Namibian, normally a left winger but sometimes pushed into service at left-back, failed to properly clear a ball into the box, almost back-heeling it straight to Ekstein, who rifled home his shot from the edge of the penalty area.

It will have been a sweet moment for the former AmaKhosi star, but a terrible piece of play from Hotto. 
Pirates won a penalty when AmaZulu defender Taariq Fielies was adjudged to have gone through the back of Buccaneers midfielder Makhehlene Makhaula in the box.

There seemed minimal contact, but from behind, anything is liable to give away a spot-kick. Patrick Maswanganyi stepped up to coolly slot the ball home from 12 yards.

It is his second goal of this campaign after he also netted in the 6-0 rout of Crystal Lake in the Last 32.   

Pirates have come up with several moments of magic in recent times and their second goal was another of these. A Kabelo Dlamini free-kick from 25 yards flew into the back of the net after the Usuthu wall disintegrated, though there was perhaps some clever shielding work done by Pirates players in front of them.

It is his first Nedbank Cup goal since a strike against Maritzburg United in 2021.
Fielies may have been at fault for the penalty, but he drew Usuthu level at 2-2 with a trademark header from a free-kick.

Abbubaker Mobara delivered the set-piece and Fielies rose highest to steer the ball past Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine. It was a fine effort, but Pirates coach Jose Riveiro will be tearing his hair out at the simplicity of the AmaZulu goal.
Dlamini had a hand in Pirates’ third as well as his searching free-kick was headed back across goal by Monnapule Saleng, and Makhaula finished with a shot from eight yards, giving Veli Mothwa in the Usuthu goal no chance.

It proved a bridge too far for AmaZulu to come back from that, but they played their part in a thrilling cup tie.   
Maswanganyi put the cherry on top with a fourth goal for Pirates and his second of the night as he drilled the ball past a helpless Mothwa.

He has been making headlines at Pirates this season with some superb displays, and this will have underlines his quality and provides further ammunition for those who believe he will go on to be a top, top player.

Stellenbosch FC have been playing some of the most exciting football in the South African elite league this season and showed again why they are emerging as a top team in the country.

Having already claimed the Carling Knockout trophy this season, they performed a demolition act on SuperSport United to win 4-0 and book their second successive Nedbank Cup semifinal.

They were unlucky losers on penalties to Sekhukhune United last season, but you feel this team could have gone all the way 12 months ago. Now is their chance to prove that.

Former SuperSport player Iqraam Rayners never settled in Pretoria but has been a revelation since his return to Stellenbosch in January 2023.

He now has 25 goals and countless assists in a little over a year and was at it again on Saturday. He scored his side’s final goal, but also laid one on for Devin Titus, who has now scored in every round of the 2024 Nedbank Cup.

Anicet Oura and Andre De Jong were the other players on target. New Zealand international De Jong also has three goals in this year’s competition. 

QUARTERFINAL RESULTS

Friday, April 12

University of Pretoria 1 (Abrahams 32’) Mamelodi Sundowns 1 (Ribeiro 8’)

After extra-time; Sundowns won 4-3 on penalties

Saturday, April 13

Stellenbosch FC 4 (Oura 7’, Titus 46’, De Jong 52’, Rayners 61’) SuperSport United 0

AmaZulu 2 (Ekstein 30’, Fielies 63’) Orlando Pirates 4 (Maswanganyi 45'pen, Dlamini 58', Makhaula 82')

QUARTERFINAL FIXTURE
Sunday, April 14

15h00: TS Galaxy vs Chippa United – Mbombela Stadium

  

TOURNAMENT STATS 

Matches Played: 27

Goals Scored: 80

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), Andre de Jong (Stellenbosch FC), Tshegofatso Mabasa (Orlando Pirates), Patrick Maswanganyi (Orlando Pirates), Anicet Oura (Stellenbosch FC), Gaston Sirino (Mamelodi Sundowns), Devin Titus (Stellenbosch FC)

2 – Delano Abrahams (University of Pretoria), Pule Ekstein (AmaZulu), Thulani Gumede (Richards Bay), Thembinkosi Lorch (Mamelodi Sundowns), Tapelo Xoki (Orlando Pirates)

1 – Emilio Abreu (Highlands Park), Mervin Boji (Stellenbosch FC), Bantu Chingi (Maritzburg United), Katlego Cwinyane (Hungry Lions), Leandro de Sousa (Pretoria Callies), Sede Dion (AmaZulu), Kabelo Dlamini (Orlando Pirates), Matias Esquivel (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bienvenu Eva Nga (Chippa United), Taariq Fielies (AmaZulu), 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), Makhehlene Makhaula (Orlando Pirates), Thabo Makhele (Chippa United), Tladi Makhetha (D'General), Douglas Mapfumo (Polokwane City), Terrence Mashego (Mamelodi Sundowns), 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), Iqraam Rayners (Stellenbosch FC), Lucas Ribeiro (Mamelodi Sundowns), 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)