It was mixed results for the big guns in the different competitions at the weekend, as both Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates won, while Kaizer Chiefs’ disappointing form continued after they were handed a heavy defeat in the CAF Champions League.
Read: Chippa End City's Nedbank Cup Journey In Extra-Time
Thrashing Sends Chiefs To Second Last In Group C
Chiefs’ disappointing form continued when Gavin Hunt’s side was defeated 4-0 by Wydad Casablanca in the CAF Champions League.
Chiefs had defender and captain Ramahlwe Mphahlele sent off after he was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area by the match referee and a penalty was awarded to Wydad, which they converted for their fourth goal.
Mphahlele had already been booked prior to the incident and was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.
The Soweto giants are second last in Group C with one point from two matches.
Chiefs have failed to win in eight matches in all competitions and have finished the month of February without a single victory.
Amakhosi last win was in January against Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila in the DStv Premiership.
To read Chiefs’ full match report, click here.
Read: 22 Passes Lead to Brilliant Downs Goal
Penalty & Red Card Help Downs In Away Win
Mamelodi Sundowns got off to a flying start in their CAF Champions League match against CR Belouizdad after defender Chouaib Keddad handled the ball inside the area in the third minute and Themba Zwane scored from the resultant penalty.
Keddad was shown a red card by Malian referee Boubou Traore. Peter Shalulile scored, while Zwane netted the second one of the game, as well as Lebohang Maboe and Kermit Erasmus also registered their names on the scoresheet to help the Brazilians to a 5-1 trouncing on Sunday at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium to top Group B with six points.
To read Downs’ full match report, click here.
Special Praise For Pirates’ Top Player After Cup Win
Second half substitute Kabelo Dlamini was showered with praise by Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer for his revolutionary impact on the game after replacing Ben Motshwari against Maritzburg United in the Nedbank Cup Last 16 match.
Dlamini scored the equalizer for the Buccaneers after the Team of Choice had taken an early lead.
“Dlamini is a player he needs small spaces, unbelievable, he's a top player when he has a tight space, he find always a good solution and he can score, we know this,” Zinnbauer said after the game, in part.
Deon Hotto and Vincent Pule scored the other two goals to secure the Bucs' quarter-finals spot of the competition.
To read Zinnabuer’s reaction, click here.
Read: R20M Shalulile Justifying His Downs Price Tag
GladAfrica Championship To Be Represented In The Semi-Finals
GladAfrica Championship is guaranteed to have at least one team in the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup, following the quarter-final draw that was conducted on Sunday.
With Cape Town All Stars drawn to play against Pretoria Callies, one of these teams will feature in the semi-finals while Richards Bay FC has been drawn to face Chippa United. Polokwane City are set to play Sundowns in the final Last 16 fixture.
To view the Nedbank Cup draw, click here.
