Kaizer Chiefs’ Nedbank Cup title defence ended much earlier than anyone expected on Wednesday evening after a determined Stellenbosch side outplayed them 2- 1 at the Cape Town Stadium. On the same night up in Pretoria, Mamelodi Sundowns managed to avoid a scare of their own, squeezing past second tier side Gomora United to reach the round of 16.
A difficult night for the champions
Chiefs arrived in Cape Town carrying the confidence of four straight wins in the new year, but it was Stellenbosch who showed greater urgency from the first whistle. The home crowd at Cape Town Stadium sensed it too. Stellies needed this result after recent setbacks in African competition, and they played like a team desperate to reset their momentum.
Their performance carried an emotional layer as well. The team stepped onto the pitch still mourning the death of 20 year old Jeandre Gaffoor, a rising player from their DStv Diski Challenge squad who passed away on February 1. The players wore that emotion with pride and purpose, and it showed.
Ibraheem Jabaar opened the scoring early from the penalty spot after Flavio Silva’s raised boot caught Thabo Moloisane. Chiefs tried to respond quickly but Sage Stephens was unshaken in goal, denying Mduduzi Shabalala in a crucial one on one.
Just as Amakhosi tried to regain their rhythm, Devin Titus doubled Stellenbosch’s lead with a sensational strike from outside the area that left Brandon Petersen rooted. It was one of those Cape Town specials that sends a ripple of disbelief through the stands.
Chiefs improved after the break and pulled one back with a Silva penalty after Mosa Lebusa handled in the box. Yet they never found the equaliser, with Thulani Mabaso’s late effort sailing just over. It summed up Chiefs’ evening, close enough to believe but never close enough to convert.
Sundowns survive a real test
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Over at Loftus, Sundowns supporters arrived expecting a comfortable scoreline. What they got instead was a match that tested every nerve.
Sundowns dominated the game from the start. They held nearly 80 percent of the ball and peppered the Gomora goal with long range attempts and crosses. But Gomora’s defensive block was stubborn, making Masandawana work harder than they expected.
Peter Shalulile eventually opened the scoring in the 41st minute after Kutlwano Letlhaku created space on the byline. The relief inside the stadium was short lived though. Just before halftime, Gomora’s Mpho Maoke punished a defensive error, snatching the ball on the edge of the Sundowns box and finishing cleanly.
The second half was all Sundowns again, but the finishing was still missing its usual sharpness. It took a well timed run from Thapelo Morena in the 62nd minute to restore the lead, heading in from a Jayden Adams cross.
More chances came and went, particularly for Shalulile and substitute Tashreeq Matthews, but Sundowns clung to their narrow win. It was far from perfect, but it was enough to push them into the next round.
What this means going forward
For Chiefs, this exit will sting. Knockout football has not been kind to them in recent seasons and an early Nedbank Cup departure adds pressure at a time when their supporters are hungry for silverware.
For Stellenbosch, it is a reminder of their growing reputation as one of South Africa’s most fearless cup sides. On a night touched by the memory of a young teammate, their performance carried weight and heart.
Sundowns march on as expected, but their struggle to put Gomora away will give coach Miguelo Cardoso plenty to reflect on. Cup football is unpredictable and Wednesday night proved it again.
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Source: Various
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