Chiefs and Stars win, Ajax humbled

Johannesburg - Kaizer Chiefs made an easy game look hard as they were forced to dig deep to overcome a resilient National First Division side Stellenbosch FC last night.

Although Chiefs were too good in the end, they were, however, made to sweat for their passage into the next round of the Nedbank Cup.

Second-half goals from Joseph Molangoane, Siphiwe Tshabalala and Gustavo Páez booked Amakhosi a place in the last 16.

Free State Stars avenged last weekend’s defeat when they beat Highlands Park 2-0 at home.

It was a sweet revenge for Stars after they lost their league encounter to Highlands last weekend.

But the story of the day belonged to ABC Motsepe League side KwaDukuza who sent Ajax Cape Town crashing 4-3 on penalties.

The two sides were locked at 2-all at full-time.

Ajax became the first Absa Premiership side to be booted from the Nedbank Cup.

It was not the first time a lower-division side sent a Premiership team crashing.

In 2013, another third-tier side, Maluti FET College, pulled off an upset against Orlando Pirates at the same stage of the tournament. Before then, Baroka FC made a name for themselves when they knocked out Kaizer Chiefs in 2011.

KwaDukuza’s victory means they become the first ABC side in this year’s competition to progress to the last 16.

This was after North West representatives Buya Msuthu were humbled 2-0 by Bloemfontein Celtic at Moruleng Stadium yesterday.

Although Msuthu gave a good account of themselves, the Premiership side were not to be denied a spot in the last 16.

Celtic opened the scoring as early as the second minute when Deon Hotto Kavendji headed home from close range.

Vuyisile Wana ensured Celtic’s name would be in the hat in Thursday’s draw with an 86th-minute goal, which secured victory for the visitors.

Also yesterday, United Rovers FC of the Northern Cape were humbled by National First Division side Jomo Cosmos 3-0 at Tsakane Stadium.

Baroka also booked a place in the last 16 with a 2-0 victory against FC Cape Town at the NNK Rugby Stadium. This was their first victory in 15 matches.