Cape Town Spurs crashed out of the Nedbank Cup in the Last 32 after a 1-0 defeat to Motsepe Foundation Championship side University of Pretoria on Wednesday night.
Nedbank Cup Last 32
Result: University of Pretoria 1-0 Cape Town Spurs
Date: 21 February 2024
Venue: TUKS Stadium
The Urban Warriors named virtually the same line-up that thrashed AmaZulu over the weekend, with the exception of Jarrod Moroole, who was recalled.
AmaTuks, meanwhile, made wholesale changes, as only former Mamelodi Sundowns defender Herold Majadibodu and Tshepiso Mahlangu remained from their win over Upington City in the Motsepe Foundation Championship over the weekend.
The Tshwane outfit, at the top of the MFC table, rested their key players, the likes of Sundowns loanee Thabang Sibanyoni and former Brazilians midfielder Samuel Julies among others.
The sides were evenly matched in the early exchanges but AmaTuks started to exert more pressure and were rewarded with a penalty just after the half-hour mark for a handball in the box.
Delano Abrahams stepped up and made no mistake from the spot-kick, as he broke the deadlock for Tlisane Motaung's charges.
Ernst Middendorp was determined to bring Spurs back in the game with changes at half-time, as Bradley Ralani replaced Moroole in an attacking change and Keagan Buchanan came on for Siviwe Nkwali in a tactical change.
However, the Urban Warriors were vulnerable pressing AmaTuks high and on 73 minutes Abrahams had a big chance after he won possession and was clear on goal but his shot was brilliantly saved by shot-stopper Neil Boshoff.
Maselaelo Seanego almost made it 2-0 for AmaTuks in the dying minutes after he spotted Boshoff way off his line with a long range effort that missed the gaping net.
The Tshwane outfit, however, held on in the end and made it through to the last 16.
Here's how they lined up:
University of Pretoria: Van der Walt, Gum, Mahlangu, Mokoen, Majadibodu, Marebane, Mkhuma, Mvambi, Abrahams, Mohlamonyane, Makungo
Subs: Mamabolo, Francis, Seanego, Sekotlong, Zandamela, Mpedi, Makwarimba, Rangata, Ramshala
Cape Town Spurs: Boschoff, Nkwali, Moroole, Maphathe, De Goede, Kamagi, Bern, Butsaka, Phewa, Velebayi, Radiopane.
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