A new coach watching from the stands. A winless run thrown in the bin. And in Limpopo, a shoot-out won by a team that finished with ten men. Saturday’s opening night of the cup’s last 16 had a bit of everything, except a goal at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
The knockout cup last 16 results send Golden Arrows and Siwelele into the quarter-finals. Arrows beat Chippa United 4-0 at the King Zwelithini Stadium. Polokwane City and Siwelele could not be separated in 120 minutes, and Siwelele won the shoot-out 4-3, FARPost reports. Neither club has ever lifted this trophy, FARPost notes. Both are now three wins from doing it.
Knockout cup last 16 results at a glance
| Match | Score | Goals | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Arrows v Chippa United | 4-0 | Junior Dion, Sabelo Sithole, Nhlanhla Zwane, Jerome Karelse | King Zwelithini Stadium, Durban |
| Polokwane City v Siwelele | 0-0 after extra time, Siwelele won on penalties | None | Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane |
Arrows find their spark under a new man
It had been a rough week. The club dismissed Pitso Dladla, and Mandla Ncikazi came in to replace him. On Saturday Ncikazi watched from the stands while assistant coach Ashley Makhanya ran the team from the bench, FARPost reports. Whatever was said, it landed.
Junior Dion headed Arrows in front early, and Sabelo Sithole doubled the lead before the half hour. FARPost credits Dion with an assist as well, and his goal ended a three-match personal drought. Chippa coach Brandon Truter made three changes at half-time, AfricaSoccer reports, but the second half belonged to Arrows too. Nhlanhla Zwane made it three with seven minutes of normal time left, and Jerome Karelse added the fourth shortly after.
It is Arrows’ first win since late August, and it ends a five-match run without one. A week ago they lost 1-0 at home to newly promoted Milford, as our Premiership results from 17 October recorded. This looked like a different side.
For Chippa it was another long afternoon. Truter’s team have one win, five draws and two defeats from their eight league games, FARPost notes.
Ten men, a shoot-out and a goalkeeper’s miss
In Polokwane the chances came, but nobody could take one. Siwelele had their moments, AfricaSoccer reports: Christian Saile sent an effort over from Aphiwe Baliti’s delivery, and Yanda Mfolozi headed a Baliti corner wide. Oscarine Masuluke, in the Polokwane goal, kept out Shadrack Kobedi after a quick free kick, and Bulelani Nikani’s looping header from a free kick hit the foot of the post.
Then Baliti’s night ended early. The Orlando Pirates loanee picked up a second yellow card late in extra time for a foul on Surprise Manthonsi, and Siwelele had to see out the rest of the night with ten men.
They did, and the shoot-out went their way. Polokwane missed twice, and one of those misses came from Masuluke himself, the goalkeeper stepping up to take a kick. AfricaSoccer credits Jody February in the Siwelele goal with two saves. Thato Letshedi scored the penalty that settled it.
For Polokwane, it stings twice. They are still waiting for a first win this season, and last Sunday they lost 1-0 to the same opponents in the league, to an added-time goal from substitute Michel N’Guessan, the PSL reported. Two meetings in seven days, and Siwelele came out on top both times.
What comes next in the last 16
The round continues on Sunday: Kruger United host AmaZulu at Mbombela Stadium at 15:00, and Sekhukhune United meet Richards Bay at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium at 18:00, both listed in our weekend fixture guide. Then Tuesday brings the big three, all at home and all at the same time.
| Tuesday 27 October | Kick-off |
|---|---|
| Orlando Pirates v Milford | 19:00 |
| Mamelodi Sundowns v Marumo Gallants | 19:00 |
| Kaizer Chiefs v TS Galaxy | 19:00 |
Durban City and Stellenbosch close the round at Chatsworth Stadium on Wednesday 28 October at 19:00.
Each of the big three arrives with something on its mind. Pirates come in flying after their 4-0 win over African Stars took them into the CAF Champions League group stage, and face the Milford side that beat Arrows a week ago. Sundowns, the holders of that competition, went out of it on away goals, as our report from Loftus explains. Chiefs won in Durban on Friday and still went out of the Confederation Cup, losing the shoot-out to Red Arrows.
A home cup tie can be a reset, or a trap. Arrows and Siwelele are already through. On Tuesday night we find out who joins them.