Ten-man Chippa United avoided an embarrassing upset against local rivals FC Ravens after they fought back from an early goal down to emerge 2-1 victors in the Nedbank Cup round of 16 at the Buffalo City Stadium on Saturday, 16 March.
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The Chilli Boys, who were knocked out by eventual finalists Sekhukhune United in the last eight in 2023, kept their Ke Yona dream alive by booking their place in the quarters for the fourth time in six seasons.
Chippa co-coaches Thabo September and Kwanele Kopo made two changes to the team that lost 2-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns in the DStv Premiership last weekend, bringing in Malebogo Modise and Elmo Kambindu for Sergio Kammies and Brooklyn Poggenpoel, while opting to go with two upfront.
Nkosibonile Mtolo, who scored the equaliser against NC Pros in the previous round to take the game into extra time, had to make do with a place on the bench once more for Sibusiso Mapompo's side as Samkelo Ngcungama and Thamsanqa Magwaza led the line again.
It proved to be a wise decision after Ngcungama got his name on the scoresheet just five minutes into the Eastern Cape derby when he beat Stanley Nwabali following good work from Zamani Mwandla to set him up.
The third-tier minnows defended doggedly for the remainder of the first half to take their narrow one-goal lead into the break and they were given a further boost early in the second half with the dismissal of Kambindu on 58 minutes for a second bookable offence after the Namibian striker was cautioned on the half-hour mark.
The Chilli Boys rolled the dice with 15 minutes remaining and brought on veteran forward Andile Mbenyane for the ineffectual Bienvenu Eva Nga as one of three substitutions. It had the desired effect as they found a reply through Thabo Makhele with nine minutes to go in regulation time, taking the cup tie into extra time.
Mbenyane then found the back of the net himself on 108 minutes to complete the comeback win and end Ravens' hopes of becoming only the fourth ABC Motsepe League club to reach the quarterfinals.
Chippa United (0) (1) 2 (Makhele 81', Mbenyane 108')
FC Ravens (1) (1) 1 (Ngcungama 5')
After extra time
Chippa United: S. Nwabali, S. Nhlapo (S. Kammies 75'), T. Makhele, J. Chabalala, M. Modise (R. Pietersen 98'), C. Martin, G. Mosele (A. Bonani 75'), S. Kwayiba (A. Mqokozo 88'), K. Mahlatsi (B. Majogoro 65'), E. Kambindu, B. Eva Nga (A. Mbenyane 75').
FC Ravens: S. Lamati, L. Mhlanganyelwa, M. Msomi, N. Mbangata, S. Gwele, L. Mazibuko (N. Mtolo 120'), A. Cezu (B. Shabangu 120'), F. Ngcobo (B. Dube 78'), Z. Mwandla (A. Khunta 57'), T. Magwaza (M. Mdwebu 62'), S. Ngcungama (S. Dlamini 62').