PIC: Relebohile Mofokeng of Orlando Pirates challenged by Baxolise Khotso of Hungry Lions

Defending champions Orlando Pirates marched into the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals with a comfortable 4-0 win over 10-man Hungry Lions at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday as there were also victories for SuperSport United and Chippa United.

It was another thrilling day of Nedbank Cup action as we came close to an upset and saw 10 goals scored in the three games to provide plenty of entertainment.
Pirates profited from an own goal by Lions’ Morena Monaheng midway through the first half the second time in as many matches in this year’s Nedbank Cup that their opponents have put the ball into their own net.

That was followed by a brace from Tshegofatso Mabasa, the second an absolute bullet from 30-yards, his third in the 2024 Nedbank Cup and ninth of a campaign which started on loan at Moroka Swallows. Lions were not helped by a red card for S'Bongakonke Gamede just before the hour-mark.
It has not been a great season to date for Monnapule Saleng but following his starring role in the Soweto Derby win last weekend, he looked lively and grabbed a well-taken goal to make it three in two matches. He had another goal incorrectly chalked off for offside.

These are his first strikes since August and come at a good time as he pushes to get back into the Bafana Bafana thinking. On his day he is one of the best in the Premier Soccer League, both as a scorer and a creator.
Pirates are now unbeaten outright in nine Nedbank Cup matches, since a humbling 4-1 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns in the quarterfinals in 2021.

They are looking to be just the second side to retain the trophy since 2008 after SuperSport United, whose two victories in 2016 and 2017 were ironically both achieved in the final against The Buccaneers.
Chippa United had to come from behind to defeat third-tier FC Ravens from Bizana in an Eastern Cape derby that went to extra-time at the Buffalo City Stadium.

Ravens scored early on through Samkelo Ngcungama and that was the way it stayed until the final 10 minutes as Chippa lost Namibia international Elmo Kambindu to a red card.

But they got the equaliser through Thabo Makhele and in extra-time stalwart forward Andile Mbenyane, who has been with the club since their inception in 2010, found a winner to avoid the lottery of penalties.

If there were any doubts that 18-year-old Shandre Campbell was a star in the making then their 3-1 victory over Richards Bay dispelled those.

The teenager netted a superb long-range strike and then showed good composure to find the back of the net from close range as he moved level with Mamelodi Sundowns’ Gaston Sirino and Mabasa at the top of this year’s Nedbank Cup scorers’ charts with three goals.

Sibusiso Mthethwa pulled a goal back for Richards Bay with five minutes to go, after they had also missed a penalty through Justice Figuareido after he saw his effort saved by Ricardo Goss.

But Ghampani Lungu made the game safe deep into injury-time as SuperSport advance to the quarterfinals.    
    

LAST 16 RESULTS
Wednesday, March 13
University of Pretoria 2 (Mohlamonyane 58’, Sibanyoni 90’) Moroka Swallows 1 (Mbanjwa 79’)

Thursday, March 14
Sekhukhune United 0 AmaZulu FC 2 (Dion 26’, Letsoalo 62’)

Friday, March 15
Milford FC 1 (Chili 45’) Stellenbosch FC 6 (Titus 20’, Oura 34’, 45’, De Jong 46’, 48’, Boji 88’)

Saturday, March 16
Chippa United 2 (Makhele 81’, Mbenyane 108’) FC Ravens 1 (Ngcungama 5’)
After extra-time

Richards Bay 1 (Mthethwa 85’) SuperSport United 3 (Campbell 6’, 44’, Lungu 90’)

Orlando Pirates 4 (Monaheng 21og, Mabasa 66’, 90’, Saleng 72’) Hungry Lions 0

LAST 16 FIXTURES 

Sunday, March 17

15h00: D’General vs TS Galaxy – Free State Stadium
18h00: Mamelodi Sundowns vs Maritzburg United – Lucas Moripe Stadium

TOURNAMENT STATS 

Matches Played: 22

Goals Scored: 63

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), Tshegofatso Mabasa (Orlando Pirates), Gaston Sirino (Mamelodi Sundowns)

2 – Andre de Jong (Stellenbosch FC), Thulani Gumede (Richards Bay), Anicet Oura (Stellenbosch FC), Devin Titus (Stellenbosch FC), Tapelo Xoki (Orlando Pirates)

1 – Delano Abrahams (University of Pretoria), Emilio Abreu (Highlands Park), Mervin Boji (Stellenbosch FC), Bantu Chingi (Maritzburg United), Katlego Cwinyane (Hungry Lions), Leandro de Sousa (Pretoria Callies), Sede Dion (AmaZulu), Pule Ekstein (AmaZulu), Matias Esquivel (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bienvenu Eva Nga (Chippa United), Justice Figuareido (Richards Bay), Kayden Francis (Chippa United), Fuad Johnson (NB La Masia), Victor Letsoalo (AmaZulu), Ghampani Lungu (SuperSport United), Lebogang Maboe (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thabo Makhele (Chippa United), Tladi Makhetha (D'General), Douglas Mapfumo (Polokwane City), Terrence Mashego (Mamelodi Sundowns), Patrick Maswanganyi (Orlando Pirates), 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), 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)

Own goals – Adam Khumalo (Crystal Lake), Solomon Letsoenyo (TS Galaxy), Morena Monaheng (Hungry Lions)