Nedbank Cup Reaches Climax Stage

The 2015 Nedbank Cup has produced headline-makers, giant-killings and star performances. There have been spectacular goals to remember, individual contributions to celebrate as well as a few humorous moments along the way. With the final between Ajax Cape Town and Mamelodi Sundowns approaching on the 16th of May, we took a look back at some of the memorable moments from the earlier rounds!     A man called Roggert and Shaka Zulu sink three   Siphelele 'Shaka Zulu' Mthembu hit three against Edu Sports in the early rounds, and Black Leopards' Roggert Nyundu banged in a hat-trick against FC Cape Town. Nice job, gentlemen!    Pitso and his verbal punches!    Pitso Mosimane threw some verbal punches after Mamelodi Sundowns beat Platinum Stars 3-1 in the Round of 32. He said at the time, "We needed to stop the myth of Stars in the cup... we ended the myth."    Kwakman – He's not a striker, man.       Goalscoring defenders are like gold. Chelsea's John Terry is arguably the most prolific alongside Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos. With close to 50 goals in his career, Wits' Kees Kwakman is right up there as well. The Dutchman bagged another in the club's win over Tuks in the Round of 32.   'Sparapara' keeps on banging them in!    With two goals in the Nedbank Cup for Golden Arrows, 32-year-old Mabhuti Khenyeza can't stop scoring. The 100-goal plus centre forward is still as hungry as ever!   A hat-trick of Sonos said goodbye!    Coach Jomo Sono and his two sons weren't able to prevent Ezenkosi losing 1-0 to Black Aces in the earlier rounds. A hat-trick of Sonos made their exit from the tournament.     Brockie's blast bewilders Bucs!    Jeremy Brockie has stormed into South African football like a massive New Zealand forward clearing out a ruck. His exquisite volley against Orlando Pirates sent the Ghost Ship crashing into the rocks and out of the tournament. Take that, Bucs!   'Mousedog' helps on fire Vasco   SuperSport United loanee Stanley Muishond caught the eye with his performances which helped Vasco da Gama to the semi-finals. Translated from Afrikaans, 'Mousedog' was on fire!    Anssi Jaakkola thanks his woodwork   Ajax Cape Town's Finnish goalkeeper has been in inspired form for the club in the Nedbank Cup, and in particular made some crucial saves in the Round of 32 against Bloemfontein Celtic. However, he also thanked his woodwork on two occasions as the Urban Warriors held on to a 1-0 win.    Referees under fire!   During Black Leopards' shock defeat of Kaizer Chiefs, there might have been a few in the crowd wondering whether referee Daniel Bennett and his linesmen needed their eyes tested as Lidoda Duvha's first goal was clearly 20 yards offside. Stuart Baxter later remarked, "It was light-years offside!" Some days the decisions go your way... sometimes they don't!    Zeca zaps Chiefs and wins coach of the Round of 32   Zeca Marques inspired Leopards to a win over runaway PSL leaders, Chiefs. Zeca zapped Chiefs as his NFD outfit brought down the Amakhosi juggernaut.    Zwane apologies for scoring!   Themba Zwane was a picture of class after refusing to celebrate against Mpumalanga Black Aces in the quarter-finals. It was the team where he made his name and he looked almost apologetic when he scored Sundowns' decisive second goal! Eish, sorry gents!    Grobler shows Brockie and Nkhatha a thing or two!   When Gordon Igesund brought both Kingston Nkhatha and Jeremy Brockie to SuperSport United, Bradley Grobler must have feared the worst. Instead, he has since proven himself as a goalscoring super sub, netting United's winner against Arrows in the quarter-finals. That showed Brockie and Nkhatha a thing or two!    The goalkeepers have lost their marbles!    Vasco's Steven Hoffman and Leopards' Avhashoni Tshinuna were both caught stranded off their lines during the Cape side's 3-2 win in the last eight. It led to the pair each conceding rather soft goals. What's wrong with these keepers? They have lost their marbles!    Ek se, we bend it like Beckham in Cape Town, my bra!    The quality of service during Ajax Cape Town's 2-1 win over Wits in the last eight was simply David Beckham-esque. It led to two easy goals as Ajax gave the Clever Boys a few free lessons of how to cross a football!    Armogam does a Messi!      He beats one, he beats two and he goes past a third. Nope, it wasn't Lionel Messi turning defenders into quivering wrecks. Vasco's veteran winger, Jonathan Armogam, earned the top dribble of the round gong after leaving three Leopards defenders for dead. Setting up Ndiviwe Mdabuka's goal was just the cherry on top of his fine solo run.   The Ajax late-late show!   The look on Gordon Igesund's face was priceless after his SuperSport side conceded two goals late in the semi-final against Ajax Cape Town. Tashreeq Morris' 93rd minute winner was the crowning glory of Ajax's late-late show! Sorry, Gordon Better luck next time, mate!    Age ain't nothing but a number for Cale!    Veteran Franklin Cale showed his quick feet are not slowing down. His shibobo and smart assist led to Mosa Lebusa's late equaliser against SuperSport. Sies kat, Bolo!    From hero to villain for a bearded winger!    Jonathan Armogam might still be having nightmares. Though he has had an excellent Nedbank tournament, he was guilty of missing some golden chances against Sundowns in the final four. It cost Vasco dearly and the Cape side were unlucky to go out. Harties to the bearded winger!   Pitso does a Fergie!   After surrendering the league title to Chiefs, Pitso Mosimane's future at Downs has been questioned. A defeat to Vasco in the semi-finals might have been catastrophic! Just as Alex Ferguson survived calls for his head to roll at Manchester United in the early part of his tenure with a good cup run, it appears Jingles did the same by doing a Fergie in the Nedbank Cup!

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