PIC:Second-tier Casric Stars stunned topflight AmaZulu in their Nedbank Cup quarter-final

Second-tier sides Casric Stars and Milford FC have booked their places in the semi-finals of the 2026 Nedbank Cup after stunning topflight opponents in their last-eight clashes on Saturday.

Stars edged AmaZulu FC 2-1 after extra time of their encounter in Durban, while Milford beat Sekhukhune United 3-2 on penalties after the teams played to a 2-2 draw.

It is rare, but not unheard of, for two lower-league sides to reach the semi-finals. In 2011, second-tier Black Leopards met third-tier Baroka FC in the last four.

Stars’ upset came in the same stadium where second-tier TS Galaxy stunned Kaizer Chiefs in the final in 2019 to become the only team from that division to lift the trophy.

Stars had to weather an early storm from AmaZulu but took the lead on 12 minutes.

Having cleared from their own box, Stars were quickly on the break and when Leletu Skelem was played into space on the left wing, he drove towards the box and played in Mfundo Thikazi to provide a neat left-footed finish into the bottom corner of the net.

Remarkably, it is Thikazi’s first goal since he scored for Royal AM at Chippa United in August 2023.

Pule Ekstein found an equaliser on 49 minutes after he beat the offside trap and side-footed into the back of the net for his second goal of the campaign and six overall in his Nedbank Cup career.

It looked as though the game might go to penalties until Decide Chauke came up with the winner on 115 minutes. His low shot across goal struck the far post and then trickled agonisingly along the goal line before going in.

Milford FC took an early lead against Sekhukhune United when Cheswyn Philander scored inside four minutes as he was left in acres of space on the right-hand side of the box and side-footed into the goal.

But Sekhukhune turned the game around as Bradley Mojela scored just a few minutes later when he rose highest to meet the ball with a header.

That was how it stayed until extra time, when Sekhukhune took the lead as Olerato Mandi was left unmarked at the back post and fired into the net for his first goal for the club since his arrival from Pretoria Callies at the start of the season.

But Milford did not lie down and they found an equaliser on 115 minutes as Sibulele Mekuto headed into the back of the net from a free-kick to take the game to penalties.

Sekhukhune missed three times in the shoot-out and it was Milford goalkeeper Siphamandla Hleza who scored the winning penalty to take his side through.

It will be the first time in the semi-finals for both Stars and Milford.

NEDBANK CUP QUARTER-FINAL FIXTURES/RESULTS

SATURDAY, MARCH 7

AmaZulu 1 (Ekstein 49’) Casric Stars 2 (Thikazi 12’, Chauke 115’)

After extra-time

Sekhukhune United 2 (Mojela 10’, Mandi 106’) Milford FC 2 (Philander 4’, Mekuto 115’)
After extra-time; Milford won 3-2 on penalties

SUNDAY, MARCH 8

15h00: TS Galaxy vs Jacksa Spears – Solomon Mahlangu Stadium
18h00: Lamontville Golden Arrows vs Durban City – King Zwelithini Stadium

TOURNAMENT STATISTICS
Matches played: 26
Goals scored: 62

Goals per game: 2.39

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), Pule Ekstein (AmaZulu), Lundi Mahala (Richards Bay), Moeti Mofokeng (Jacksa Spears), Thuso Mogale (Casric Stars), Bradley Mojela (Sekhukhune United)
1 – Yannick Angoume (Hungry Lions), Decide Chauke (Casric Stars), 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), Vuyo Letlapa (Sekhukhune United), Victor Letsoalo (TS Galaxy), Siphelele Luthuli (Siwelele), Olerato Mandi (Sekhukhune United), Grant Margeman (Siwelele), Sheldon Mashuge (Jacksa Spears), Patrick Maswanganyi (Orlando Pirates), Ayabulela Maxwele (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Thalente Mbatha (Orlando Pirates), Sipho Mbule (Orlando Pirates), Tonny Mbunga (Milford), Sifiso Mdluli (Milford FC), Sibulele Mekuto (Milford FC), Kgotso Mizi (Cardinals), Ntshuxeko Mkhabela (Luthuli Brigades), Ntuthuko Mlotshwa (Lerumo Lions), Mpho Moake (Gomora United), Thapelo Morena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Mehluleli Ndelu (Mkhambathi), Siphosethu Ndlabi (Milford), Sithembiso Ngobe (TTM), Siphamandla Ngwenya (TS Galaxy), Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya (AmaZulu), Lebohang Nkaki (Polokwane City), Bongumusa Nkosi (University of Pretoria), Itumeleng Olyn (Jacksa Spears), Michel Phigeland (CR Vasco da Gama), Cheswyn Philander (Milford FC), Bokamoso Seretsi (Jacksa Spears), Peter Shalulile (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bulelani Sigomoshe (Milford), Flávio Silva (Kaizer Chiefs), Mfundo Thikazi (Casric Stars), 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)