Marumo Gallants booked their place in the Nedbank Cup last sixteen, beating Santos 2-0, becoming the eighth DStv Premiership side to reach the next round. They are joined by Black Eagles from the North West ABC Motsepe league as the round of 32 was completed.
Three of the four teams playing on Sunday were from the ABC Motsepe leagues, while Gallants were the sole DStv Premiership outfit. They are also technically defending champions, albeit are now under the Gallants monicker not Tshakhuma as they were known last season.
Marumo Gallants 2-0 Santos
Gallants booked their place in the last sixteen as they beat Santos 2-0 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Unsurprisingly it was Gallants who took the initiative against their ABC opponents, who of course are also former Nedbank Cup (and Premiership) champions.
Santos were relegated from the Premiership a decade ago, and from the National First Division five years ago).While Gallants are in their first year of existence, Santos are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year.
Gallants broke the deadlock in the 18th minute with a well worked goal, Sede Dion on hand to poke home from Mpho Mvelase’s cross.
It was pretty much all Gallants in the first half, as Santos failed to make in-roads into their opponents final third.
Dion should’ve doubled the lead in the 40th minute, but Stanton Weir got down well to make the save. Two minutes later Weir touched Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo’s effort onto the upright. Weir saved again in stoppage time, this time from Celimpilo Ngema’s effort from close range.
Despite their domination, at the break Gallants led just 1-0.
It was much of the same in the second half, Dan Malesela’s team dominating, but were unable to add to the scoreline for twenty minutes.
They finally made it 2-0 in the 65th minute, and once against it was Dion to poke in, after a cutback from Katlego Otladisa.
Washington Arubi made his first save 69 minutes into the game, as Ray-Marco Wildskut got Santos’s first shot on target, while Weir saved Otladisa’s attempt five minutes later.
Shiraaj Davids tried an audacious attempt in the 81st minute, but Arubi was able to palm it over, while Riyaaz Nell went just wide in the 86th minute.
Black Eagles 3- 2 (AET) Sivutsa FC
Black Eagles grabbed an extra time winner to win 3-2 after extra time at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Sunday’s non-televised fixture between North West and Mpumalanga ABC Motsepe league clubs. That match has headed into extra time.
