Pro Philani looks back at this weekend’s football action as four teams maintain consistency and march on in the Nedbank Cup.
Form teams maintain consistency in the Nedbank Cup
Royal AM, Mamelodi Sundowns, Marumo Gallants and TTM made it through to the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup.
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 ✅
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) April 10, 2022
Royal AM fight back from 2-0 down to score three unanswered goals in the second half through Letsoalo (brace) and Thikazi. They are through to #NedbankCup semifinals. pic.twitter.com/clC3SI67Jw
TTM and Royal AM made their semi-final qualifications in dramatic circumstances when both these sides came back from two goals down to earn victories. TTM are the only GladAfrica Championship side remaining in the competition and showed how difficult it can be playing against fired-up NFD sides. SuperSport United went to halftime leading 1-0 from a Jesse Donn volley in the 17th minute. In the Second half, SuperSport United continued with their dominance as Gamphani Lungu netted a penalty to make it 2-0.
TTM began their fight back and made it 2-2 to take the match into extra-time. As the crowd cheered and sang in the stands, it was TTM again who found a winner in the first half of extra-time. The ‘army regalia’ inspired coach of TTM was jubilant after the final whistle.
TTM Coach Nelukau explains why he wore the military regalia pic.twitter.com/AlPqKvV9mH
— GovernorSA🇿🇦 (@GovernorTshif) April 8, 2022
Royal Andile Mpisane fought hard in terrible conditions at Chatsworth Stadium from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at the end. Tuks coach, Tlisane Motaung, will be would have been thrilled with the first half his side had as they went 2-0 after Wonderboy Makhubu bagged a brace. Motaung, a 37-year-old coach who worked with the Tuks Varsity side will lament his side’s lack of game management experience when they gave up the lead in the second half.
Tuks started this game without suspended defender Kaketso Majadibodu who was missed by his team. Leading scorer Luvuyo Phewa started on the bench and when he was introduced in the second stanza, AM had already got a full grip on the match. Royal AM showed why they are known as the best finishers of any team in Mzansi. Before this match, AM had netted 14 goals in the last 15 minutes of their matches this season. It should’ve been clear for Tuks that the second half was going to be a different ball game.
A Victor Letsoalo brace and a Mfundo Thikazi 90+5 strike gave AM the victory they deserve to face Mamelodi Sundowns at home in the semi-final.
Royal AM came from 2 goals down to defeat AmaTuks 3-2 in wet conditions in Chatsworth.
— Tiisetso Malepa (@TiisetsoMalepa) April 10, 2022
They'll face Downs in the semis, with holders Gallants vs TTM in the other semi.
Draw was conducted shortly after Royal vs AmaTuks match.
Dates will be known later this week.#NedbankCup2022 pic.twitter.com/ewbZdRbh7W
The Limpopo derby took centre stage on Saturday afternoon when Baroka battled against Marumo Gallants. Although the trophy was written TTM, it was Gallants, under TTM name, who won the 2021 Nedbank Cup.
Gallants dominated possession as they always do in both halves, with Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo and Miguel Timm conducting the orchestra. Baroka had their own chances to win the match but the best one fell to Maluleke who headed poorly from Evidence Makgopa’s cross in the second half.
Baroka coach Kgoloko Thobejane could not believe his eyes and kicked up a massive fuss on the touchline lamenting the miss from the midfielder. Gallants eventually found the opening from Serge Deon, and the goal proved to be the difference in the end. The 2019 winning coach, Dan Malesela, will be confident in the semis when his side were drawn against another Limpopo side, TTM.
TTM man of the match says of Supersport: “I feel like we were playing against an NFD team” 😳😳
— Mazola J. Molefe (@superjourno) April 8, 2022
Mamelodi Sundowns continued their dominance on the domestic front when they outclassed amateur side from Chatsworth, Durban, Summerfield Dynamos. Dynamos are the 2021 KZN ABC Motsepe champions and were looking forward to testing their readiness for the playoffs against the 2020 champions.
A 5-0 scoreline would be a fair result for Clinton Larsen, the coach of Dynamos, as his young side was made to chase the ball for the better part of the game. Dynamos tried to impose their game but the quality of Sundowns proved too much for the plucky Durban outfit. Sundowns’ technical team would be boosted by the brilliance and the return to form by midfielder Gaston Sirino. Sirino had four goal contributions on the day which includes a hat-trick of assists and a goal for himself.
Mamelodi Sundowns put 🖐 past Summerfield Dynamos to book their spot in the #NedbankCup semifinals 🟡🟡 pic.twitter.com/yDoyUUTCRT
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) April 9, 2022
