Stellenbosch paid Oswin Andries a fitting tribute after they beat Swallows 3-0 in the Nedbank Cup round of 32 at Athlone Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Andries tragically lost his life at the age of 19 last weekend and was honoured before kick-off, with Steve Barker’s side getting off to a flying start when Vusi Sibiya opened the scoring on eight minutes, and a brace from Iqraam Rayners (17′, 58′) capped off a memorable day.
The Maroons were looking to reach the last 16 for just the second time in their history, while Swallows hoped to progress beyond the first-round proper for the third year running.
The visitors went on the attack early on and Kagiso Malinga fired wide of the near post from an angle on the left in the third minute before Stellies threatened three minutes later when Andre de Jong tested Sanele Tshabalala with a shot from inside the box.
The Cape Winelands outfit hit the front soon afterwards, however, as Sibiya rose above his marker to plant a header past Tshabalala from an eighth-minute corner.
Their dream start got even better when Rayners beat Tshabalala with a curling effort from outside the area that nestled into the bottom right corner of the net on 17 minutes to make it 2-0.
It was all Stellenbosch for the remainder of the first half, with Devon Titus forcing Tshabalala into a good save on 21 minutes after being found by Dean van Rooyen inside the box and the winger glanced a header wide of the left post 11 minutes later.
Titus went close again on 40 minutes after combining with Van Rooyen once more, drawing another smart save out of Tshabalala with a strike across the goal.
The hosts remained in the ascendancy after the restart as Titus dragged a shot wide of the left post from inside the box on 48 minutes before Olwethu Makhanya directed a header past the right post from a 50th-minute corner.
Swallows had a rare sniff at goal four minutes later when Bongani Sam failed to keep his header down from a free-kick but Stellenbosch effectively put the game to bed on 58 minutes as Rayners produced another fine finish from range.
The January signing from SuperSport United gave Tshabalala no chance with a rasping shot that flew into the bottom left corner of the net.
Junior Mendieta looked to get in on the act with an attempt from inside the area that cleared the crossbar on 78 minutes and Titus was denied by Thakasani Mbanjwa at the death after being played in on goal by the Argentine in the 88th minute.
Stellenbosch (2) 3 (Sibiya 8′, Rayners 17′, 58′)
Swallows 0
Stellenbosch:L. Langeveldt, D. van Rooyen (K. Jurgens 81′), O. Makhanya, V. Sibiya (L. Sobiech 82′), F. Basadien (Q. Sibande 60′), D. Titus, S. Nduli, I. Jabaar (N. Mgaga 65′), J. Mendieta, I. Rayners, A. de Jong (S. Mthethwa 60′).
Swallows: S. Tshabalala (T. Mbanjwa 62′), G. Damons (K. Mngonyama 46′), K. Allan, J. Sait, Y. Sasman, E. Rusike, T. Mthethwa, M. Wambi (D. Uromi 46′), P. Zulu (B. Sam 46′), W. Isaacs (L. Mtshali 46′), K. Malinga.
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