National First Division (NFD) side Richards Bay FC were the biggest winners in the first round of the Nedbank Cup after trashing amateur side Young Tigers 5-0 to book themselves a place in the next round.
NFD log leaders Highlands Park was pipped 1-0 by fellow national first division opponents Stellenbosch FC in Cape Town.
Free State Stars had to come from behind to beat NFD neighbours, Super Eagles 2-1 in Bethlehem.
Highlands Park, who are firm favourites to gain automatic promotion back to the Absa Premiership at the end of the season, visited fifth-placed Stellenbosh FC.
However, an early goal by Iqraam Rayners from close range gave Stellenbosch a narrow 1-0 win, ending a 16 match unbeaten run of the National First Division log leaders.
Highlands Park rested several key players because gaining promotion remains their main mission.
“In no uncertain ways, I mean the cup game is very important and we respect the Nedbank Cup. It’s a big cup. We’ve got a very good squad. I mean you look at a player like Mathobi; since the Olympics he’s never had one single week of rest so we had to make sure that we allow other players to rest,” says Highlands Park Coach Owen Da Gama.
Absa Premiership side Free State Stars had to dig deep for a 2-1 extra-time win over neighbours Super Eagles at Goble Park on Wednesday evening.
Stars did not want to become the second Premiership club after Polokwane City to be eliminated by a lower league side.
In a closely-fought encounter, Eagles made a positive start to the game after Bongani Mbuli put Eagles in front from a corner kick.
It took defender Rooi Mahamutsa to find the equaliser for Stars late in the match.
Then Ghanaian striker Mohamed Anas grabbed the winner in the first half of extra time.
Platinum Stars who are bottom of the Premiership log, will not have any more destruction’s after bombing out of the Nedbank Cup.
Gift Motupa’s second-half penalty was enough to hand a ten-man Baroka FC a 1-0 win over Platinum Stars in Phokeng.
Baroka were reduced to ten men, fifteen minutes before time after Goodman Mosele received his second booking of the game.
Stars did everything possible in search of an equaliser in the closing stages of the game, but Baroka managed to hold on for a narrow win.
“Well, its survival for us. It’s ten games; it’s ten cup finals. So, now we can put the Nedbank Cup away from us and we’re going to focus on the next 10 games and we’re going to get to thirty points as quickly as possible,” said Platinum Stars Coach Roger De Sa.
Ten premiership sides and six teams from the lower leagues have advanced to the next round.
The draw for the second round will be conducted in Johannesburg this evening.
