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Johannesburg - Platinum Stars eased into the Nedbank Cup Last 16 stage, winning 5-0 to brush past Dolphin FC at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on Wednesday.
Three goals came in the first-half as the amateur side rarely matched up to the Premiership outfit at their home ground.
However, the hosts did take their foot off the pedal in the second stanza instead of finishing their opponents off with a more convincing score line. They did manage to net two goals in the final 20 minutes that gave decent their opponents a decent hiding.
Dinaledi striker Henrico Botes netted a brace, with goals in the 11th and 30th minutes that put his side in the driver's seat.
Midfielder Mduduzi Nyanda netted the side's second after 29 minutes.
In the 71st minute, Botes completed a match hat-trick, with wingback Vuyo Mere putting the final nail in the coffin six minutes later.
There were opportunities falling for captain Robert Ng'ambi and substitute strikers Nathan Paulse and Patrick Malokase to score late in the game.
While efforts from Ng'ambi and Paulse went wide, Malokase's free-kick in injury time rebounded off the woodwork sparing the visitors the embarrassment of conceding a sixth goal.
It was a welcome motivating victory for Stars and their coach Owen da Gama, who have been improving in the last two weeks after a dismal period.
Their next focus is on improving their standing in the league.
They meet Golden Arrows - who beat Black Leopards 4-2 in Durban in the league in a simultaneous fixture - at Moruleng Stadium, also in Rustenburg, next Wednesday.
Nedbank Cup results Wednesday:
Santos 1 (T. Arendse 24) Pretoria University 0
Platinum Stars 5 (Botes 14, 31, 73, Nyanda 30, Mere 76) The Dolphins 0
Friday:
Moroka Swallows v BIDVest Wits 18:00
Saturday:
Free State Stars v Sivutsa Stars 13:00, Vardos v United 13:00, Black Leopards v Blackburn Rovers 18:15, Ethekwini Coastal v Orlando Pirates (holders) 18:15
Sunday:
AmaZulu v Ajax Cape Town 13:00, Roses Utd v Bay Utd 13:00
