Ten upset results in the Nedbank Cup

The Nedbank Cup last 32 is in full swing this weekend and there are a number of potential upsets on the cards in the David vs Goliath battles.

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The competition has become synonymous with shocks down the years and some of the greatest results ever seen in South African football have come in the Nedbank Cup.

We take a look back at 10 upset results in the competition since 2008.

21 March, 2009
Pretoria University (1) 4 (Yende 23, Mongala 64, 86, Moleko 70)
Kaizer Chiefs (2) 3 (Dladla 28, Torrealba 42, Tshabalala 82pen)

A real 'ding-dong' battle ebbed and flowed from one side to the other before AmaTuks finally came out on top in what would be a run to the final of the 2009 Nedbank Cup that would ultimately end in defeat against Moroka Swallows.

Mthokozisi Yende, who would later join AmaKhosi, gave Tuks the lead midway through the first half, but just five minutes later Chiefs were level through Josta Dladla, whose cross was bundled into his own net by the Tuks goalkeeper.

And Chiefs were then ahead as Jose Torrealba bizarrely fisted the ball into the net as he lay on the ground having been brought down by the keeper. The goal was given though.

Tuks were level again when Phenyo Mongalo played on while everyone around him stopped, appealing for offside, and beat Itumeleng Khune in the Chiefs goals.

The First Division side then took the lead as Thabo Moleko lobbed Khune for a brilliant goal, but Siphiwe Tshabalala brought Chiefs level at 3-3 as he converted a spot-kick after Kaizer Motaung Jnr had been fouled, an incident that saw Tuks skipper Obert Moyo red-carded for his protests.

With the First Division side down to 10 men it was assumed Chiefs would stroll home in the closing stages, but instead it was Tuks who scored, Mongalo, later to join Orlando Pirates, scored his second four minutes from time.

11 April, 2009
Winners Park (1) [2] 3 (Malesa 7, Mabena 90, Chauke 93)
Ajax Cape Town (1) [2] 3 (Khenyeza 15, Serero 87, Cale 95)
After extra-time; Ajax win 4-2 on penalties

There were six goals, two missed spot-kicks in ordinary time and a red card in what was a real ‘blood and thunder’ cup tie between the Premiership visitors and their First Division hosts.

Tshepo Malesa opened the scoring for Winners Park, before Mabhuti Khenyeza equalised for the Urban Warriors. Both sides missed penalties within minutes of each other late in the game, but still managed goals as first Thulani Serero saw his cross float over goalkeeper Makweni Mayala, before Ndumiso Mabena, now at Bloemfontein Celtic, equalised seconds later.

The game went into extra time and the home side took the lead through a deflected effort from Desmond Chauke, but Franklin Cale scored a sublime equaliser from distance.

Rufus Mokoti received his marching orders for a terrible challenge as Winners Park finished the game with 10 men.

But Mabena missed his second penalty of the day and Noel Mwandile followed suit as Ajax won the shootout.

14 April, 2010
Platinum Stars (0) 2 (Senamela 58, 73)
ALS Puk Tawana (2) 3 (Phetolo 12, Shongwe 34, 64)

Vodacom League 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.

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 was the first 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.

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 the greatest ever cup shock in South African football.

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.

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 lineup, couldn’t respond.

Their first ever Nedbank Cup experience proved a chastening one.

23 January, 2019
Polokwane City (1) 1 (Anas 29’)
Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (0) 2 (Manqele 56’, 86’)

This was a Limpopo derby and a first-ever meeting between top-flight Polokwane City, who were riding high at the time, and National First Division outfit Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila, making their debut in the Nedbank Cup last 32.

The home side were heavy favourites and it was no surprise when they took the lead just before the hour-mark through Ghanaian forward Mohammed Anas.

Most expected them to go on and claim an easy win, but TTM had other ideas and their veteran forward Edward Manqele, once of Kaizer Chiefs, scored a classy brace in the second half.

He showed great pace to finish with his first, and then got a winner four minutes from time to send the visitors into wild celebrations.

18 May, 2019
Kaizer Chiefs 0
TS Galaxy (0) 1 (Lepasa 90’pen)

Second-tier TS Galaxy shocked South African football as they became the first club from outside the top-flight to lift the Nedbank Cup trophy, defeating fancied Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 in the decider in Durban.

The game looked as though it was headed for extra-time before Galaxy striker Zakhele Lepasa converted a late penalty to spark wild scenes of celebrations for the history-making Rockets.

What made it worse for Chiefs was that Lepasa was on loan from their bitter Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates, where he is still a player today.

The AmaKhosi, coached by Ernst Middendorp, were expected to brush aside their second-tier opponents and end their trophy drought.

But canny Galaxy coach Dan Malesela had a plan that the team executed perfectly, and just as it seemed the match would head to extra-time, Teenage Hadebe upended Lepasa in the box.

The young forward got up and held his nerve to score the winner.

February 9, 2020
Vaal University of Technology (1) 2 (Mawelewele 4', Hlongwane 88')
Lamontville Golden Arrows (1) 2 (Mokondo 11'og, Gumede 86')
After extra-time; VUT won 6-5 on penalties

This was the first 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.