PIC: Meshack Maphangule (left) of Chippa United and Khomotjo Lekoloane of Polokwane City

Chippa United became the final team to book their place in the Nedbank Cup Last 16 as they pipped hosts Polokwane City in a penalty shoot-out at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium after the teams played to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday.
The top-flight side won the shoot-out 3-1 to take to 11 the number of DStv Premiership sides in the Last 16 draw, along with three teams from the Motsepe Foundation Championship and two from the amateur ranks.

It was a hard-fought contest on a wet night in Limpopo that started well for the home side as they raced into the lead.

Francis Baloyi pounced on a poor back-pass and easily beat Chippa’s Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Those two came up against one-another again in the second half but this time it was the gloveman who came out on top.

Chippa’s equaliser will go down as an own goal for Bulelani Nikani, but credit the excellent work done by the Chilli Boyz striker Thabiso Lebitso.

He picked up the ball 40 yards from goal, drove into the box and got to the byline before his attempted cross-come-shot was deflected into his own net by the defender.

Lebitso is a former product of Nedbank’s Ke Yona Team search and captained the team of amateurs in 2019. 
Both teams had chances to win it after that, with Chippa ending the period of extra-time the stronger, though they were denied by the excellence of Polokwane goalkeeper Manuel Sapunga.
It was a penalty shoot-out that nobody seemed to want to win. When Polokwane missed their first two spot-kicks and Chippa scored theirs it looked all over, before the roles were reversed and Chippa missed two in a row to give Polokwane a way back in.

But the second-tier side spurned it and, in the end, only netted one of their four kicks as veteran Andile Mbenyane, who has been at Chippa from the very start of the club, scored the decisive kick.

The 11 teams from the DStv Premiership in Wednesday’s Last 16 draw are Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, Marumo Gallants, Sekhukhune United, Stellenbosch FC, Lamontville Golden Arrows, TS Galaxy, AmaZulu, Chippa United and Royal AM.

The three teams from the Motsepe Foundation Championship are Cape Town Spurs, Venda Football Academy and Casric Stars, to go with the two sides from the amateur ranks – Dondol Stars and Mpheni Home Defenders.

2023 NEDBANK CUP LAST 32 RESULTS

February 7, 2023
Mamelodi Sundowns 3 (Shalulile 11’, 55’, Lebusa 46’) Richards Bay 2 (Zungu 30’pen, Makateng 90’)

Marumo Gallants 3 (Koapeng 27’pen, Moseamedi 45’, Thangwane 45’) Magesi FC 1 (Selemela 59’)

February 8, 2023
SuperSport United 1 (Nhlapo 18’) Dondol Stars 2 (Molefe 51’, Monama 76’)

Sekhukhune United 6 (Kabwe 13’, Cardoso 36’, Ohizo 53’pen, Mncube 80’, 85’, Morris 90’) Liver Brothers 0


February 10, 2023
Cape Town Spurs 3 (Moosa 56’, Butsaka 88’, Ryan 90’) Baroka FC 0

Maritzburg United 0 Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Saile 92’, Du Preez 113’)

After extra-time

February 11, 2023
FC Blackcross 1 (Thakho) Venda Football Academy 2 (Manzini 9’, 66’)

Lamontville Golden Arrows 2 (Mogaswa 50’og, Mutizwa 113’) Pretoria Callies 1 (Dubula 15’pen)
After extra-time 

Mpheni Home Defenders 3 (Makanya 43’, Shilenge 67’, Mavundla 86’) Clarewood JPM 0

Stellenbosch FC 3 (Sibiya 8’, Rayners 17’, 58’) Swallows FC 0

All Stars 0 Orlando Pirates 2 (Saleng 62’, Lorch 71’) 

February 12, 2023
AmaZulu 3 (Gumede 8’, Mhango 25’, Ntuli 63’) Tornado FC 2 (Katz 78’, Dupane 80’)

Mkhambathi FC 0 Casric Stars 4 (Mosadi 9’pen, 30’, Abubaker 24’, Nkosi 50’)

TS Galaxy 2 (Mahlangu 41’, Pholongo 45’) Amavarara 0

Cape Town City 0 Royal AM 0
After extra-time; Royal AM won 4-3 on penalties

February 14, 2023

Polokwane City 1 (Baloyi 3’) Chippa United 1 (Nikani 12’og)

After extra-time; Chippa won 3-1 on penalties

TOURNAMENT STATS 

Matches Played: 16

Goals Scored: 50

Biggest Victory: Sekhukhune United 6 Liver Brothers 0 (February 8, Last 32)

Most Goals in a Game: 6 – Sekhukhune United 6 Liver Brothers 0 (February 8, Last 32)

GOALSCORERS 

2 goals – Rhulani Manzini (Venda Football Academy), Vusimuzi Mncube (Sekhukhune United), Kgomotso Mosadi (Casric Stars), Iqraam Rayners (Stellenbosch FC), Peter Shalulile (Mamelodi Sundowns)

1 – Mumuni Abubakar (Casric Stars), Francis Baloyi (Polokwane City), Chumani Butsaka (Cape Town Spurs), Daniel Cardoso (Sekhukhune United), Ashley du Preez (Kaizer Chiefs), Siyabonga Dubula (Pretoria Callies), Kenneth Dupane (Tornado FC), Michael Gumede (AmaZulu), Rodrick Kabwe (Sekhukhune United), Mario Katz (Tornado FC), Letsie Koapeng (Marumo Gallants), Mosa Lebusa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thembinkosi Lorch (Orlando Pirates), Sphiwe Mahlangu (TS Galaxy), Bonginkosi Makanya (Mpheni Home Defenders), Katleho Makateng (Richards Bay), Nkosephayo Mavundla (Mpheni Home Defenders), Gabadinho Mhango (AmaZulu), Relebogile Molefe (Dondol Stars), Kholofelo Monama (Dondol Stars), Therlo Moosa (Cape Town Spurs), Tashreeq Morris (Sekhukhune United), Judas Moseamedi (Marumo Gallants), Knox Mutizwa (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Siyabonga Nhlapo (SuperSport United), Siyabonga Nkosi (Casric Stars), Bongo Ntuli (AmaZulu), Chibuike Ohizu (Sekhukhune United), Masilake Phohlongo (TS Galaxy), Colin Ryan (Cape Town Spurs), Christian Saile (Kaizer Chiefs), Monnapule Saleng  (Orlando Pirates), Kagiso Selemela (Magesi FC), Nkateko Shilenge (Mpheni Home Defenders), Vusi Sibiya (Stellenbosch FC), Theko Thakho (FC Blackcross), Tebogo Thangwane (Marumo Gallants), Nkanyiso Zungu (Richards Bay)
Own goal – Kamogelo Mogaswa (Pretoria Callies), Bulelani Nikani (Polokwane City)