There will be at least one ABC Motsepe league side in the quarterfinal of the Nedbank Cup this year after Jacksa Spears completed a gritty 1-0 win over Vasco Da Gama in the Round of 16 at the Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Vasco Da Gama dominated their opponents in the first 15 minutes of the match and created a couple of scoring opportunities in the process. Tristan Van Der Lingen produced Vasco’s first attempt on target, a shot from outside the area saved by Sanele Mbombo in goal.
While Vasco saw most of the ball early on, Kabelo Tsenodi forced goalkeeper Luther Jacobs into action and saved the Jacksa attacker’s shot from the middle of the box in the 16th minute.
The Cape Town side continued to rack up the shots tally, most notably through Kiyaam Bull’s 35-yard shot and Van Der Lingen’s close range header grasped by Mbombo.
However, it was Jacksa who took the lead moments before the break, after Itumeleng Olyn found the net from close range following a swift passing move in the 41st minute.
Vasco immediately attacked during the opening exchanges of the second-half as Jacksa sat back and absorbed the pressure. Jacksa battled to progress the ball up the pitch due to Vasco’s pressure.
The Western Cape side’s progress worsened early in the second 45 after Kiyaam Bull received his marching orders in the 53rd minute, prompting Jacksa to attack.
Jacksa continued to search for their second goal as the clock ticked down in Upington; Jacobs was once again required to make a telling save in the 80th minute following Cameron Chweu’s effort from range.
Nonetheless, Jacksa ended the game strongly, causing trouble to the Vasco backline on a couple of occasions before eventually seeing out the game unscathed.
Jacksa Spears: (1) 1 (Olyn 41’)
Vasco Da Gama: 0
Jacksa Spears: Mbombo, P. Rabdebe, Mvula, G.Radebe, Mofokeng, Lebelo (Chweu 67’), Olyn, Mashuge (Mokgobo 90’), Tsenodi (Qambela 80’), Seretsi (Mhlanga 67’), Mahlalela (Nyalambisa 90’)
Vasco Da Gama: L.Jacobs, Young, Bull, Joemath (C.Jacobs 77’), Le Roux, Rose (Roman 58’), Diedericks (Johnson 66’), Van Der Lingen (Salie 77’), Dien, Overmeyer, May (Phigeland 58’)