Stellenbosch FC were made to work for their place in the MTN8 semifinals this weekend after recording a hard-fought 3-2 win against AmaZulu at the DHL Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The home side saw most of the ball during the opening exchanges of the match, but did little to trouble the opposition backline. With only three shots toward the AmaZulu goal during the first half-hour, Stellenbosch battled against the stubborn Usuthu defence.
It was AmaZulu who drew first blood in the 18th minute, with Keegan Allan getting his name on the scoresheet. Following a scramble for the ball inside the 18-yard-area, the newly signed defender popped up in the right place to guide the ball home.
Not holding back, Stellenbosch levelled the scoreline in the 25th minute after Sanele Barns joined Allan on the scoreboard following a well-constructed passing move en-route to goal.
Stellies go marching on 🍇⏭️
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 3, 2025
They book their place in the #MTN8 semi-finals 🔥#SSDiski | #MTN8WafaWafa pic.twitter.com/Uw7TFiojJi
The Cape Winelands side continued to see most of the ball after scoring their equalising goal and racked up the passing count toward the half-time break.
Stellenbosch remained proactive in possession and actively searched for their second goal, while Barns came close to doubling his side’s advantage in the 50th minute after a free-kick on the edge of the area.
While Barns’ previous free-kick attempt was successful, the PSL veteran made sure the second-time around with a classy effort in the 69th minute to give his side the lead.
Barn’s second effort proved to be short lived after AmaZulu equalised just three minutes later through Tebogo Mashigo, who was picked out by Pule Ekstein before finding the back of the net.
Impact off the bench 💥
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 3, 2025
Langelihle Phili fires Stellies into the lead 🍇🔥
📺 Stream #MTN8 on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/xWhkLmVCxq
With there being no separation of the two sides during 90 minutes, the game eventually headed an extra 30 minutes at the DHL Stadium.
Following a tense first-half of extra time, Stellenbosch re-took the lead in the 108th minute courtesy of a well-struck long-range effort by Langelihle Phili.
Nevertheless, Phili’s effort proved to be the last bit of action after the 120 minutes as Stellenbosch advanced to the next phase of the popular showpiece.
Stellenbosch: (1) 3 (Barns 25’, 69’, Phili 108’)
AmaZulu: (1) 2 (Allan 18’, Mashigo 71’)
Stellenbosch: Stephens, Godswill, Mcaba, Moloisane, Mdaka, Khiba (Butsaka 70’), Palace, Titus, de Jong (Lekoloane 82’), Barns (Nku 70’), Cupido (Mojela 82, Nkwali 119’)
AmaZulu: Ofori (Mzimela 31’), Hanamub, Fielies, Mthethwa, Allan, Hlangabeza (Motshwari 77’), Zungu (Mbanjwa 90’), Ekstein, Mashigo, Radebe (Mzobe 105’), Moon (Sithole 46’)