The giant-killers – all the big Nedbank Cup upsets since 2008

Dondol Stars’ twin victories over topflight opposition in this year’s Nedbank Cup takes to 11 the number of occasions that opposition from the SAFA structures have beaten clubs from the elite league since 2008.

Their latest stunning win has booked a quarterfinal place and came at the expense of AmaZulu, whose misery in the Nedbank Cup continues.

It was just the second ever Last 16 victory for a minnow side over a DStv Premiership team, and the first in 12 years.

We look back at all the times amateur sides have knocked out clubs from the topflight.

14 April, 2010

Platinum Stars (0) 2 (Senamela 58, 73)

ALS Puk Tawana (2) 3 (Phetolo 12, Shongwe 34, 64)

Third-tier side Als Puk Tawana secured a major scalp when they beat Premiership Platinum Stars in a North West Province Derby in the first round in 2010.

The lower league side, a feeder team for Premiership Mamelodi Sundowns, stunned their hosts with two first-half goals from Lebepe Phetolo and Jabulani Shongwe.

Stars got a goal back through Kagiso Senamela just before the hour mark and might have felt they were beginning to take control of the tie, before Shongwe netted his second to make the scoreline 3-1. The minnows might have been further ahead too, but Stars goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini saved Buhlebuyeza Mkhwanazi's penalty, just to add to the drama.

Senamela scored again to complete his brace and set up a barnstorming final 17 minutes, but try as they might, Dikwena could not find a way through.

3 April, 2011

Baroka FC (0) 2 (Mashego 48, Moremi 80’)

Moroka Swallows (0) 1 (Leonard 74’)

Unknown third-tier side Baroka FC had squeezed into the Last 16 with a victory over fellow minnows Mighty Mega Force, so not much was expected of them when they hosted topflight Moroka Swallows at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.

But boy, would they surprise. They were packed with players who would go on to have stellar careers but were just making their way at the tiny Limpopo club.

Baroka took the lead just after halftime through Katlego Mashego, but Swallows equalised 16 minutes from the end thanks to forward Auguston Leonard.

It looked as though the momentum would swing in their favour after that, but Baroka stunned them again when substitute Mashilo Moremi put the home side ahead with his first touch.

This was the first time a third-tier side had beaten Premiership opposition in the Last 16.

24 April, 2011

Baroka FC (1) 2 (Ndlovu 44, Mncwango 90)

Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Musona 36)

This match provided the biggest upset in South African football history at the time and is the first, and only, time Kaizer Chiefs had been beaten by third-tier opposition in their illustrious 40-year history.

It continued the fairytale for minnows Baroka FC and made their players instant celebrities in the domestic game, as well as hugely raising the profile of coach Sello Chokoe.

It all appeared to be going to plan for AmaKhosi as Zimbabwean hot-shot Knowledge Musona put Chiefs ahead in the 36th minute. Skipper Jimmy Tau raced down the right and crossed for Musona, whose left footed strike hit the roof of the net.

But Baroka were back on level terms just a minute before the break, veteran Sam Ndlovu heading home from a corner to stun the visitors.

Chiefs had numerous opportunities in the second half to secure the win, but after a litany of misses, were made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal.

Baroka striker Thobani Mncwango bundled the ball home in injury time after a melee in the box to complete the greatest victory in the club’s short history.

This remains the only time a third-tier side had beaten Premiership opposition in the quarterfinals.

23 February, 2013

Maluti FET College (2) 4 (L Mokoena 1, 56 Rantabane 25, 81)

Orlando Pirates (0) 1 (Manyisa 59)

Third-tier Maluti FET College then produced what is arguably still today the greatest ever cup shock in South African football given the quality of the opposition.

The Free State side defeated 2011 Nedbank Cup champions Pirates in convincing fashion in what is arguably a bigger surprise than Baroka FC’s 2011 quarterfinal win over Kaizer Chiefs.

Maluti were ahead in just 47 seconds, Lucky Mokoena collecting a pass to score his first of the afternoon.

Mashale Rantabane made it two when he headed home a free-kick, before Lucky Mokoena got his second with a looping header over Senzo Meyiwa to leave The Buccaneers stunned.

And Mokoena had a chance for the hat-trick when the home side were awarded a penalty, but he could not get power in his shot and the opportunity was wasted. Pirates midfielder Oupa Manyisa pulled a goal back from Happy Jele’s square-ball, but Rantabane headed home with nine minutes remaining to secure a famous result.

Maluti proved the result was no fluke by winning promotion to the National First Division at the end of the season.

27 February, 2013

AmaZulu (0) 1 (Malongoane 60)

Tembu Royals (1) 2 (Mofokeng 22, Ginya 47)

Eastern Cape third-tier side Tembu Royals stunned topflight AmaZulu in the Last 32 with a 2-1 victory in Durban to write their name into the history books.

Sechaba Mofekeng put them ahead as he picked up a poor clearance and fired the ball into the back of the net in the first half.

It was a deserved lead at the break and they doubled that advantage when Zukisa Ginya headed home a second shortly after the interval.

AmaZulu tried to get back into the game and after Willem Mwedihanga's header hit the post, Joseph Malongoane did reduce the deficit.

And they were almost level when the latter’s shot hit the underside of the crossbar but bounced out instead of in, and Royals were able to celebrate a famous victory.

21 February, 2015

Chippa United 0

Natal United 0

After extra-time; Natal United won 4-2 on penalties

A game of few chances had to be settled via penalty kicks as third-tier Natal United stunned Ernst Middendo’p's Chippa United.

The match was played at the Wolfson Stadium, an unusual home ground for Chippa, and it proved an unlucky one as they could not find the back of the net.

After no goals in the 120 minutes the game went to spot-kicks and =it was the minnow side who held their nerve as goalkeeper Nkosigiphile Zondi, who would later have a brief spell with Royal Eagles, proved the hero.

11 March, 2017

KwaDukuza United (1) 2 (Zondi 9, Khumalo 71)

Ajax Cape Town (1) 2 (Makua 1 Nxumalo 62)

After extra-time; KwaDukuza won 4-3 on penalties

KwaZulu-Natal ABC Motsepe League side KwaDukuza United wrote their names into Nedbank Cup folklore with a shock victory over top-flight Ajax Cape Town, although they did need penalties to finish the job.

The lower league side showed great mental strength to twice come from behind and take the game to spot-kicks, where they eventually triumphed 4-3.

Ajax had looked on course when Neo Makua put them ahead inside the first minute, but shortly afterwards the confident home side responded via striker Lungelo Zondi, who has National First Division experience with Real Kings, and had also been part of the Natal United side that beat top-flight Chippa United in 2015.

Ajax were back in front just past the hour-mark through forward Prince Nxumalo, but once again they could not hold onto their lead as former African Warriors and Mthatha Bucks midfielder Khulu Khumalo equalised.

That was the way it stayed and United were able to seal victory in the shoot-out, another notable scalp for coach Thami Ngubane.

12 March, 2017

Acornbush (1) 1 (Nkosi 42)

Cape Town City 0

Cape Town City were in their first season as a club but had already picked up the Telkom Knockout as they travelled to Mpumalanga to face third-tier Acornbush, who were coached by current Sekhukhune United boss MacDonald Makhubedu.

It was expected to be a routine assignment, but cheered on by a vociferous home crowd, the home side grabbed the win.

Mduduzi Nkosi grabbed the winner three minutes before halftime, and City, despite playing a strong line-up, couldn’t respond.

Their first ever Nedbank Cup experience proved a chastening one.

February 9, 2020

Vaal University of Technology (1) 2 (Mawelewele 4, Hlongwane 88)

Lamontville Golden Arrows (1) 2 (Mokondo 11og, Gumede 86)

After extra-time; VUT won 6-5 on penalties

This is the first and only time a team from the fourth tier of South African football had ousted opposition from the top-flight.

VUT took a shock lead on four minutes through Thakalane Mawelewele but were soon pegged back again when captain Sibusiso Mokondo put the ball into his own net. All that happened in the first 11 minutes!

Golden Arrows looked to have sealed the victory as Michael Gumede netted with four minutes remaining, but VUT were not about to give up and equalised soon afterwards through Reitumetse Hlongwane.

Neither team could find a winner in the extra 30 minutes and the game went to spot-kicks, where Lindokuhle Mtshali was the unlucky player to miss for the Premiership side.

That set off wild celebrations among the Students, who also put up a good show in the next round but were beaten 2-0 by eventual winners Mamelodi Sundowns.

February 8, 2023

SuperSport United 1 (Nhlapo 18)

Dondol Stars 2 (Molefe 51, Monama 76)

SuperSport were forced to field a makeshift side against their Tshwane third-tier rivals with a number of injury concerns, especially in defence where striker Thamsanqa Gabuza was used as an emergency centre-back.

But Matsatsantsa took the lead via fullback Siyabonga Nhlapo on 18 minutes and then created a number of opportunities to double their advantage that were spurned.

Stars came out firing in the second half and drew level as a swift break led to a chance for Relebogile Molefe, the striker scoring at the second attempt after his initial effort was saved by home keeper Ricardo Goss.

Stars then appeared to be the most likely to score next and their attacking mindset was rewarded when skipper Kholofelo Monama saw his effort deflected into the back of the net.

SuperSport were on the front foot after that but a mixture of poor finishing and excellent saves from Gumede saw then slip to a Last 32 defeat, the first time ever they have lost to amateur opponents.

March 8, 2023

Dondol Stars 1 (Fox 60)

AmaZulu 1 (Ekstein 54)

After extra-time; Stars won 5-4 on penalties

Stars showed their Last 32 win was no fluke as they displayed ample resilience again to defeat AmaZulu 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Gabadinho Mhango missed for Usuthu in the shoot-out, his shot saved by former SuperSport development goalkeeper Sphamandla Gumede, who for the second round in a row put in a match-winning performance.

AmaZulu largely dominated the encounter and would have had a more comfortable night had they not twice struck the woodwork. First it was Mhango’s shot that crashed back off the post, before Ethan Brooks struck the crossbar in extra-time.

Stars held out well until 10 minutes into the second period but a wild clearance straight to an AmaZulu player allowed Rally Bwalya to run at the defence and lay the ball off for Pule Ekstein to score.

But the joy would be short-lived as Stars equalised six minutes later with a goal that would take the game to extra-time. Usuthu goalkeeper Jody February could not hold Revaldo Fox’s header from a corner, allowing the latter to poke the ball into the back of the net from the rebound.