Bucs into last 8 of Diski

Bethlehem - Orlando Pirates fought back to win 2-1 against Free State Stars and book their quarterfinals spot in the MultiChoice Diski Challenge Group B clash at Goble Park on Sunday.

The supersport.com website reports that they join their rivals Mamelodi Sundowns, who won 3-0 against Black Aces on Saturday, in the last eight.

In Group A, the four sides that will advance to the quarter-finals will be confirmed after the last group matches next weekend.

Bloemfontein Celtic are technically through though because of their superior goal difference.

Pirates dominated the early stages of the match, but it was Stars who opened the scoring in the 22nd minute through Jackson Maphathe - for his fourth goal of the tournament.

The visitors had to wait until late in the game to find the equaliser, when substitute Siyanda Ngubo found the back of the net in the 80th minute.

Straight from the restart, Pirates won the ball and surged forward - Ngubo scored again to complete his quick brace and secure the win.

Platinum Stars were staring at a loss but a late penalty saved their blushes in an entertaining match against Chippa United at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus in Phokeng.

Chippa were en route to victory following Thabo Maselwa’s 51st minute goal but with four minutes remaining Stars snatched a point through Sifiso Mnguni’s penalty. The match ended 1-1.

Both teams still have a chance to advance to the knockout round. Stars occupy the third spot on nine points while Chippa are sixth after collecting seven points from their six games.

Kaizer Chiefs kept their quarter-finals hopes alive when they won 2-1 against Polokwane City in an entertaining Group A match at the Nike Training Centre in Pimville, Soweto.

The win takes Chiefs to second spot, level on eleven points with Bloemfontein Celtic.

Chiefs broke the deadlock seven minutes into the second half, courtesy of a goal that came after goalkeeper Kgothatso Mashia's mistake as he tried to find a teammate with his pass.

Mpho Khumalo stole the ball with a sliding tackle and got up to fire the ball into the left corner after taking a few steps forward.

They doubled the lead in the 82nd minute as Mduduzi Nyandeni finished off a great move from Simphiwe Mtsweni, the defender started the move and crossed after combining with Hendrick Ekstein.

Polokwane pulled one back four minutes later through Gopane who fired his well taken left-footed shot into the back of the net after receiving a cross from Ayanda Lubelo.

Ajax Cape Town and the University of Pretoria both had to settle for a share of the spoils after playing to a 0-0 draw in the other Group A match at the Cape Town Stadium.

Although the hosts had more of the play during the contest, both sides wasted equally good chances to get on the score-sheet.

The result means the teams are still on the same number of points with one match remaining.

Tuks are in fifth place, followed by Ajax, who are also on pointsh. They will need to win their final matches to qualify for the quarterfinals.

The last encounter of the day was the Group B clash between AmaZulu, who were already out of contention for the knockout round, and Wits at the Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu.

AmaZulu’s defender Xolani Slawuli scored an own goal in the 33rd minute to give the visitors the lead.

Darren Smith earned the home side their first point in the tournament when he netted after receiving a beautiful through ball in the 61st minute.

Wits will have to wait until after their last match against Chippa United, to see if they succeed in taking one of the two spots available from the group.