AmaZulu FC and Sekhukhune United booked their places in the Carling Knockout Cup quarter-finals after hard-fought wins on Sunday. At Mbombela Stadium, substitute Hendrick Ekstein was the hero as Usuthu edged Kruger United 1-0.
Usuthu should have capitalised early, creating two clear chances inside the opening 15 minutes. Marcel Dandjinou denied Mondli Mbanjwa with a sharp close-range save, before Athini Maqokola fired over after being set up by Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya‘s surging run down the left.
The Village Boys started the second half on the front foot. Celimpilo Ngema stung Olwethu Mzimela’s palms with a driven effort, and just after the hour mark Motsie Matima went close with a low shot that whistled past the post.
Just as Kruger looked the more likely to score, the game turned in the 77th minute. Substitute Tatenda Tavengwa handled Nkosikhona Radebe’s goal-bound shot inside the box, leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the spot.
Ekstein, who had come off the bench, kept his composure and sent Dandjinou the wrong way in the 78th minute for what proved to be the winner.
Kruger threw everything forward in search of a leveller and came within inches in stoppage time, but Mzimela produced a superb fingertip save to keep out Lesedi Kapinga’s long-range rocket destined for the top corner.
SEKHUKHUNE UNITED MARCH ON IN CARLING KNOCKOUT CUP
In the evening fixture at NewPeter Mokaba Stadium, Sekhukhune United and Richards Bay FC were locked in a tense battle with nothing to separate the sides at halftime.
But the deadlock was finally broken seven minutes after the restart. Chibuike Ohizu latched onto Nyiko Mobbie’s assist and fired a clinical left-footed strike from the centre of the box into the bottom right corner to give Babina Noko a 1-0 lead in the 52nd minute.
In addition, Thabang Makubo doubled Sekhukhune’s advantage in the 83rd minute as they continued to dominate, but Richards Bay refused to give up and pulled one back a minute later. Furthermore, Bethuel Muzeu put the result beyond doubt, sealing a 3-1 victory for Sekhukhune with a goal in the 88th minute.
RELATED STORY: Carling Knockout: Golden Arrows crush Chippa as Siwelele sneak past Polokwane City
