On Wednesday night, Dondol Stars pulled off a remarkable upset in the
Nedbank Cup, defeating top-flight side AmaZulu on penalties after a 1-1
draw after extra-time.
Usuthu, who beat Chippa United in the league, made several changes to
their side, with goalkeeper Jody February starting his second game in the
tournament.
Gabadinho Mhango had the first big chance of the game midway through the
first half, as he rattled the base of the near post.
FULL-TIME SCORE UPDATE
Dondol Stars FC 1️⃣ (5)➖ 1️⃣ (4)AmaZulu FC
Unbelievable!🔥🔥🔥🔥
We are through to the quarterfinals of #NedbankCup
📱📲 #DondolStars #Chabarefete pic.twitter.com/1iwKrKh0fb
— Dondol Stars FC (@Dondol_Stars_FC) March 8, 2023
Hendrick Ekstein also went close on goal moments later, chipping a shot
over goalkeeper Sphamandla Gumede, but his effort missed the gaping net.
Tebogo Makungo then came close for Dondol Stars with ten minutes left of
the first stanza, as he fired a diagonal strike that zipped past the
bottom corner.
Ekstein broke the deadlock nine minutes into the second stanza with a
side-footed shot from close range after a square pass from Rally Bwalya.
However, the Tshwane side had a fight in them and Revaldo Fox quickly
levelled matters six minutes later with a low strike at the back post.
AmaZulu had the enduring legs late on and Mhango came close to snatching
the equaliser two minutes before time with a low drive at the near post
but Gumede made a great reflex save.
Mhango had another chance to avoid extra-time for Romain Folz’s charges
with a well executed free-kick from the edge of the box in stoppages that
was destined for the top corner but Gumede pulled off another superb save.
Usuthu had to play the last five minutes of extra-time a man short after
Keagan Buchanan got a second yellow card for remonstrating.
However, there were tired legs from both ends in the dying minutes and
there were not clear-cut chances as a penalty shoot-out ensued, with
Dondol converting all five of their spot-kicks after Usuthu’s Mhango saw
his penalty saved.
Dondol Stars’ remarkable victory in the Nedbank Cup will be one to
remember for some time, as they eliminated a top-flight side in AmaZulu on
penalties.
