PIC: Given Msimango of Kaizer Chiefs is challenged by Siphosethu Ndlabi of Milford FC

Kaizer Chiefs were dumped out of the Nedbank Cup by second-tier Milford FC on Sunday as they again drew a blank in front of goal for the shock of the round, denied in a penalty shoot-out by the brave side from KwaZulu-Natal. 

Chiefs extended to seven their own unwanted record of defeats to lower league opponents in the Nedbank Cup, going out in the Last 32 for the third time in the past four years.

They were beaten by Milford, and in particular the KwaZulu-Natal club’s goalkeeper Siphamandla Hleza, who saved a spot-kick in extra-time, denied Chiefs on numerous other occasions, watched as Edson Castillo skied his effort in the shoot-out, and then stepped up to score the winning kick to send his side through. It will go down as one of the great individual Nedbank Cup performances.

Ranga Chivaviro missed the penalty in extra-time after it was awarded for a handball, and even when Milford later lost Vusumuzi Mthabela to a second yellow card, Chiefs could not take advantage of their numerical superiority.

So the drought goes on, their club record nine-year wait for a trophy will be extended further.

Third-tier D’General eased into the Last 16 after they beat fellow amateur side Madridtas 2-0 at the Free State Stadium.

Goals from Charles Sikhosana and Tladi Makhetha sealed the win for the ambitious ABC Motsepe League side, who are hoping to make big strides in the coming years and bring a professional team back to the Free State province.

They will now want a giant of the local game in the next round to get the kind of exposure that has helped so many other teams down the years. 

Maritzburg United were made to work hard by fourth-tier side Paarl United but eventually came through with a 3-0 win.

They took a 12^th minute lead via Bantu Chingi, but did not increase their lead until 20 minutes from the end. They got a second when Reagan van der Ross converted a penalty. The game was safe shortly afterwards when Andiswa Sithole added a third.

The Maritzburg side is very different from the one that was relegated at the end of last season, and are looking to rebuild under coach Simo Dladla, who is now being assisted by namesake, but no relation, Pitso Dladla.    
Chippa United came away from a potential banana-skin with a 2-1 victory in Upington against third-tier NC Professionals. It is just about the longest journey in South African football to the Northern Cape and they would not have been relishing this contest. But after Cameroon forward Bienvenu Eva Nga scored his first goal on his return to the club, before Lehlohonolo Morobi equalised for the hosts. But Kayden Francis snatched the winner.

It is the third time NC Professionals have been to the Nedbank Cup Last 32 and they have exited each time.  
The draw for the Last 16 will take place on Monday evening at 18h00. Eleven of the 16 DStv Premiership sides will be represented, with only three from the ABC Motsepe Foundation (University of Pretoria, Hungry Lions and Maritzburg United, and third-tier clubs FC Ravens from the Eastern Cape and D’General from the Free State. 

LAST 32 RESULTS
February 20
SuperSport United 1 (Campbell 20’) Cape Town City 1 (Mayo 45’) 
After extra-time; SuperSport won 3-1 on penalties

NB La Masia 1 (Johnson 36’pen) Mamelodi Sundowns 6 (Sirino 18’, 39’, 70’, Esquivel 22’, Mashego 27’, Maboe 49’)  

February 21
Highlands Park 1 (Abreu 120’) Sekhukhune United 1 (Yamba 94’)
After extra-time; Sekhukhune won 5-4 on penalties

University of Pretoria 1 (Abrahams 33’pen) Cape Town Spurs 0

February 22

AmaZulu 1 (Ekstein 86’) Royal AM 0

February 23

Lamontville Golden Arrows 1 (Letsoenyo 17’og) TS Galaxy 2 (Mojela 11’, Mvelase 67’)

Stellenbosch FC 1 (Titus 66’) Pretoria Callies 1 (De Sousa 87’)

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

February 24

JDR Stars 0 Hungry Lions 1 (Cwinyane 108’)

After extra-time

Crystal Lake 0 Orlando Pirates 6 (Khumalo 4’og, Xoki 8’pen, 51’, Mofokeng 11’, Maswanganyi 33’, Mabasa 79’)

Platinum City Rovers 0 Moroka Swallows 0
After extra-time; Swallows won 3-1 on penalties

FC Ravens 1 (Mtolo 90’) Spain FC 1 (Ntanga 47’)

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

Richards Bay 3 (Figuareido 32’, Gumede 34’, 71’) Polokwane City 2 (Mapfumo 29’, Matuludi 54’)

February 25

D’General 2 (Sikhosana 42’, Makhetha 49’) Madridtas 0

Maritzburg United 3 (Chingi 12’, Van der Ross 70’pen, Sithole 76’) Paarl United 0  

NC Professionals 1 (Morobi) Chippa United 2 (Eva Nga, Francis)

Kaizer Chiefs 0 Milford FC 0

After extra-time; Milford won 5-4 on penalties

TOURNAMENT STATS 

Matches Played: 16

Goals Scored: 40

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)

GOALSCORERS
3 goals – Gaston Sirino (Mamelodi Sundowns)

2 – Thulani Gumede (Richards Bay), Tapelo Xoki (Orlando Pirates)

1 – Delano Abrahams (University of Pretoria), Emilio Abreu (Highlands Park), Shandre Campbell (SuperSport United), Bantu Chingi (Maritzburg United), Katlego Cwinyane (Hungry Lions), Leandro de Sousa (Pretoria Callies), 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), Tshegofatso Mabasa (Orlando Pirates), Lebogang Maboe (Mamelodi Sundowns), 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), Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates), Lehlohonolo Mojela (TS Galaxy), Lehlohonolo Morobi (NC Professionals), Nkosibonile Mtolo (FC Ravens), Mpho Mvelase (TS Galaxy), Vuyani Ntanga (Spain FC), Charles Sikhosana (D'General), Andiswa Sithole (Maritzburg United), Devin Titus (Stellenbosch FC), Reagan van der Ross (Maritzburg United), Tresor Yamba (Sekhukhune United)

Own goal – Adam Khumalo (Crystal Lake), Solomon Letsoenyo (TS Galaxy)