Stellenbosch FC have dumped Mamelodi Sundowns out of the Nedbank Cup after a 2-1 win at the Athlone Stadium on Saturday evening.
Stellies joined Orlando Pirates (who edged Dondol Stars via penalties earlier in the day) in the semifinal draw thanks to a brace of goals from Iqraam Rayners.
The in-form forward capitalised on two defensive errors from the Brazilians to net his fifth and sixth goals of the 2022-23 edition of South Africa’s national cup.
Stellenbosch started confidently and created the first notable chance in the seventh minute, with Junior Mendieta teeing up Iqraam Rayners to fire a low shot on target which was well saved by Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango.
The visitors gradually found their feet and were close to claiming the lead on 25 minutes when Neo Maema cut inside from the right and curled a left-footed effort just wide of the mark.
Sundowns had taken control of the game by this point, though Stellies still offered a potent threat on the counter, with Devon Titus flashing an effort across the face of goal, before Rayners fired high and wide.
However, the Brazilians dialled up the pressure and claimed the lead in somewhat fortuitous circumstances in the 39th minute: Aubrey Modiba’s powerful toe-poke shot from just inside the penalty area rebounded off the underside of the crossbar, hit the legs of the diving goalkeeper Lee Langeveldt and the ball trickled into the back of the net.
Sundowns held a 1-0 lead at the break, but the hosts hit back just three minutes into the second half: a poor back-pass from Teboho Mokoena allowed Rayners to intercept, round Onyango and tap home into an unguarded net for 1-1.
And it was 2-1 in favour of Stellies just eight minutes later, as Rayners capitalised on another poor pass from a defender in yellow, powered forward and clipped a shot past Onyango to put the Cape side into the lead for the first time.
‘Downs almost levelled the game on 64 minutes via a powerful run from Khuliso Mudau, whose low shot was initially fumbled by Langeveldt, but the ‘keeper did well to make a recovery save at the feet of Gaston Sirino.
The teams traded chances in the next 10 minutes, with Shalulile shooting straight at Langeveldt, before Mendieta fired wildly off target from a promising counter.
Sundowns then began to dominate possession, with Stellenbosch sitting deeper in defence and looking to defend their lead – while still hoping to score a third goal on the break.
The league champions pushed and probed, but were unable to force their way back into the game in the dying minutes, with Stellenbosch holding out for a famous victory.
Stellenbosch FC (0) 2 (Rayners 48’ 57’)
Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 1 (Langeveldt og 39’)
Stellenbosch: Langeveldt, Jurgens, Makhanya, Sibiya, Basadien, Mthethwa, Jabaar, Adams, Titus (Nduli 62’), Mendieta (Van Wyk 85’), Rayners
Sundowns: Onyango, Mudau (Morena 87’), Kekana, Mvala, Modiba, Allende (Boutouil 71’), Mokoena, Maema (Nasir 71’), Zwane (Mabena 87’), Sirino (Mailula 71’), Shalulile
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