Rockets knock Chiefs out of Nedbank Cup

TS Galaxy caused another huge upset in the Nedbank Cup after they beat Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 at the FNB Stadium on Saturday evening to progress to the round of 16.

Augustine Chidi Kwem scored the only goal of the game in the 54th minute as the Rockets produced another shock result against Amakhosi, having beaten them in the 2019 final.

Chiefs have now exited the tournament at the first hurdle in two successive seasons after being knocked out by Richards Bay in the round of 32 last year.

Stuart Baxter’s side almost got off to the perfect start at Soccer City though, when Keagan Dolly’s second-minute corner was met by Daniel Cardoso, who saw his header go just wide of the left post.

After surviving the early scare, Sead Ramovic’s men threatened to break the deadlock on the quarter-hour mark when Lifa Hlongwane forced Brandon Petersen into a fine save with his shot from inside the area.

Nkosingiphile Ngcobo then cleared the crossbar with an effort from range in the 20th minute, while at the other end of the pitch Petersen produced a superb save to prevent Lindokuhle Mbatha’s curler from finding the top-right corner of the net on 22 minutes.

Mbatha looked to turn provider five minutes later as he played in Chidi Kwem on the left, only for the Nigerian forward to drag his shot wide of the right post.

Chidi Kwem failed to hit the target again from inside the box on 29 minutes and Orebotse Mongae had two long-range attempts sail high and wide in the closing stages of the first half.

Austin Dube nearly opened the scoring in stoppage time from a corner, but his header flashed wide of the left post.

There was a flurry of chances at the start of the second half, with Siyabonga Ngezana testing Melusi Buthelezi from range on 50 minutes before Marks Munyai pulled his shot just wide of the left post from inside the box moments later.

It was end-to-end stuff as Chidi Kwem connected with Orebotse Mongae’s cross but was unable to beat Petersen with his header, while Buthelezi made a comfortable save from Ngcobo after he was picked out by Khama Billiat inside the area.

The Rockets hit the front in the 54th minute when Chidi Kwem advanced into the box on the right and fired across Petersen into the bottom-left corner of the net.

Chiefs looked to respond and Dolly failed to covert Njabulo Blom’s cross at close range on 67 minutes before substitute Samir Nurkovic tried to beat Buthelezi at his near post two minutes later, but the visiting keeper stood firm.

The hosts thought they had equalised with seven minutes to go as Leonardo Castro slotted home fellow substitute Lebogang Manyama’s header back across the goal, only for the offside flag to cut short their celebrations.

Galaxy saw out the remainder of the cup-tie to book their place in the next round, with the Soweto giants left to rue their missed chances.

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0

TS Galaxy (0) 1 (Chidi Kwem 54′)

Kaizer Chiefs: B.Petersen, S.Ngezana (S.Nurkovic 57′), D.Cardoso, A.Dube, S.Ntiya-Ntiya (R.Frosler 70′), N.Blom, P.Nange, N.Ngcobo (L.Manyama 70′), K.Dolly, B.Parker, K.Billiat (L.Castro 58′).

TS Galaxy: M.Buthelezi, P.Sanoka, E.Seedat, S.Msimango, M.Munyai, L.Hlongwane (S.Roberts 70′), B.Aubaas, E.Brooks, O.Mongae (S.Mahlangu 76′), L.Mbatha, A.Kwem (W.Lekay 82′).