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Nedbank Cup proves to be good hunting ground for lower divisions

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The Nedbank Cup has proved to be a happy hunting ground for teams from the lower divisions in South African football.

On Wednesday night the National First Division side, Ubuntu Cape Town FC, eliminated ABSA Premiership outfit, Polokwane City, in the first round of the competition.

And AmaZulu needed a penalty shoot-out to overcome another NFD club, Mthatha Bucks.

Relegation threatened Mthatha Bucks gave AmaZulu, who are lying mid-table in the ABSA Premiership log, a good run for their money.

After a goalless first half, Bucks broke the deadlock from a set-piece in the 57th minute through Mashale Rantabane.

Then Togolese Sadat Ouro-Akoriko got the equaliser for AmaZulu eight minutes later.

It was still 1-all after ninety minutes, until Simphiwe Lumkwana put Usuthu in the lead early in extra-time.

When everyone thought AmaZulu had already booked themselves a place in the last-16, Bucks had other ideas with Rantabane getting his brace late in extra-time.

Then the experience of AmaZulu prevailed as they marched through to the next round winning 3-nil on penalties.

Rookie coach Benni McCarthy proved to have the beating of his own mentor Gavin Hunt.

This was the fourth meeting between McCarthy and Hunt since the beginning of the season, and Cape Town City had won all the previous three.

City who started brightly on the night, were rewarded after a beautiful header from debutant Matthew Rusike in the second minute of the match.

Although Wits staged a strong comeback, the Citizens managed to hold on and register their fourth straight win against the Students.

McCarthy says, “This is a ground you come back you see how well has chiefs played and they could have come back with a win here. It is not difficult to beat this team it their home ground and we have done that now four times. So just extremely proud for the boys, my players for the effort that they put in.”

Hunt says, “You have got to give Benni and his team credit but it was a boxing match. They would have thrown the towel in. That’s what happens in football, we couldn’t just get the final ball, the final pass in the first half just after they scored. We had so many opportunities. Second half dominated but you got to score like I say, but you have to give them credit for defending the way they defended but you got to break it down.”

The loss would probably allow Wits to concentrate on the league campaign, after a poor run so far this season.

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