Nedbank Cup: TS Galaxy's Lightning Strikes Twice as They Embarrass Kaizer Chiefs in Cup Again

Nedbank Cup: TS Galaxy's Lightning Strikes Twice as They Embarrass Kaizer Chiefs in Cup Again

Keba Mothoagae
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:55 PM
  • TS Galaxy completed their demolition job of Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup
  • The Rockets repeated their 2019 Nedbank Cup final heroics against the Amakhosi with a 1-0 victory at Soccer City in Johannesburg
  • Amakhosi fans will be sick at the sight of TS Galaxy for the foreseeable future

TS Galaxy claimed the big scalp of Kaizer Chiefs once more in the Nedbank Cup after running out 1-0 victors at the FNB Stadium on Saturday evening to advance to the round of 16.

Augustine Chidi Kwem scored the only goal of the game in the 54th minute as the Rockets produced another shock result against Amakhosi, having beaten them in the 2019 final.

nedbank cup final 2019, nedbank cup, kaizer chiefs, ts galaxy, dstv premiership
TS Galaxy embarrassed Kaizer Chiefs in Nedbank Cup. Image source: @KaizerChiefs/Twitter
Source: Twitter

Chiefs have now exited the tournament at the first hurdle in two successive seasons after being knocked out by Richards Bay in the round of 32 last year.

Stuart Baxter's side almost got off to the perfect start at Soccer City though, when Keagan Dolly's second-minute corner was met by Daniel Cardoso, who saw his header go just wide of the left post.

After surviving the early scare, Sead Ramovic's men threatened to break the deadlock on the quarter-hour mark when Lifa Hlongwane forced Brandon Petersen into a fine save with his shot from inside the area.

Nkosingiphile Ngcobo then cleared the crossbar with an effort from range in the 20th minute, while at the other end of the pitch Petersen produced a superb save to prevent Lindokuhle Mbatha's curler from finding the top-right corner of the net on 22 minutes.

Mbatha looked to turn provider five minutes later as he played in Chidi Kwem on the left, only for the Nigerian forward to drag his shot wide of the right post.

Chidi Kwem failed to hit the target again from inside the box on 29 minutes and Orebotse Mongae had two long-range attempts sail high and wide in the closing stages of the first half.

Austin Dube nearly opened the scoring in stoppage time from a corner, but his header flashed wide of the left post.

There was a flurry of chances at the start of the second half, with Siyabonga Ngezana testing Melusi Buthelezi from range on 50 minutes before Marks Munyai pulled his shot just wide of the left post from inside the box moments later.

It was end-to-end stuff as Chidi Kwem connected with Orebotse Mongae's cross but was unable to beat Petersen with his header, while Buthelezi made a comfortable save from Ngcobo after he was picked out by Khama Billiat inside the area.

The Rockets hit the front in the 54th minute when Chidi Kwem advanced into the box on the right and fired across Petersen into the bottom-left corner of the net.

Chiefs looked to respond and Dolly failed to convert Njabulo Blom's cross at close range on 67 minutes before substitute Samir Nurkovic tried to beat Buthelezi at his near post two minutes later, but the visiting keeper stood firm.

The hosts thought they had equalised with seven minutes to go as Leonardo Castro slotted home fellow substitute Lebogang Manyama's header back across the goal, only for the offside flag to cut short their celebrations.

In the end one goal was enough to see off the challenge of the Soweto giants, with Galaxy marching on in the competition.

Nedbank Cup: Royal AM upsets Cape Town City to make it through to the Last 16

Royal AM progressed to the Nedbank Cup round of 16 after they came from an early goal down to beat Cape Town City 2-1 at Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

John Maduka's side went behind as early as the ninth minute when Khanyisa Mayo struck for the Citizens to give them the lead at halftime, but an own-goal from Katlego Mokhuoane on 50 minutes leveled matters and Lantshene Phalane completed the comeback win four minutes later.

The first-ever cup-tie between the two clubs was an action-packed affair, with Thwihli Thwahla having the first sight at goal on eight minutes when Victor Letsoalo collected a cross inside the box and fired wide of the right post.

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Keba Mothoagae
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