Sekhukhune United booked their spot in the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup after edging Chippa United 2-1 on Sunday afternoon.
Nedbank Cup
Result: Chippa United 1-2 Sekhukhune United
Date: 16 April 2023
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Chippa made four changes following their defeat to Marumo Gallants, as Roscoe Pietersen, Meshack Maphangule and Khanyisile Mayo while Decide Chauke got only his second start of the season.
Sekhukhune, meanwhile, were unchanged from their narrow win over Maritzburg United, as Victor Letsoalo, Chibuike Ohizu and Vusimuzi Mncube led the attack.
Brandon Truter's charges had a dream start after Elias Mokwana gave them the lead within a minute from the first whistle with a strike from a rebound in the six-yard box.
The Chilli Boys rallied back as Etiosa Ighodaro found the equaliser on 17 minutes with a towering header from a corner.
Babina Noko applied more pressure going forward after that as they forced Chippa to defend deep and Ohizu eventually restored their lead just before the half-time break with a close-range header from a cross by Mokwana.
It was end to end attacks in the closing minutes of the first stanza as Letsoalo almost got a two-goal cushion for the visitors with a header in the box that missed narrowly wide.
Siyabulela Gwambi's troops were fired up to get back into the game coming from the break but struggled to create clear-cut chances.
Truter looked to make life more difficult for Chippa on 65 minutes, as he made a tactical change to reinforce the defence with the introduction of Tresor Yamba who replaced Letsoalo.
However, the Chilli Boys kept on piling the pressure and Ighodaro had a chance to pull them level four minutes later with a header that missed just wide after a cross by Ronaldo Maarman.
Sekhukhune were more interested in defending the result in the closing stages as they made another defensive change after Sammy Seabi replaced Mncube to add more buffer in midfield.
Babina Noko defended in numbers in the dying minutes and snuffed out chances from Chippa, as they booked their spot in the semi-finals.
Here's how they lined up:
Chippa United: 32. Nwabali, 20.Mathiane, 14. Mkhize, 5. Pietersen, 36. Luthuli, 3. Ntsabo, 26. Maphangule, 28. Lebitso, 37. Ighodaro, 31. Chauke, 11. Mayo.
Subs: 1. Kazapua, 7. Mbenyane, 17. Maarman, 24. Konqobe, 6. Poggenpoel, 25. Kammies, 29. Kambindu, 15. Pfumbidzai, 33. Chabalala
Sekhukhune United: 30. Sangare, 2. Mobbie, 36. Ntiya-Ntiya, 4. Cardoso, 39. Gyimah, 24. Mokotjo, 17. Mokwana, 15. Kabwe, 34. Ohizu, 7. Mcnube, 21. Letsoalo
Subs: 1. Nsabata, 35. Mahlangu, 43. Zulu, 29. Tshibwabwa, 18. Seabi, 6. Mashikinya, 11. Mosiatlhaga, 50. Vilakazi, 9. Mabasa
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