Kaizer Chiefs secured a dramatic 3-1 victory over Stellenbosch in a controversial Nedbank Cup quarterfinal at Nelson Mandela Stadium, scoring two stoppage-time goals to seal their place in the semi finals.
The match, which was filled with late drama and heated emotions, looked like it was heading to extra time until the final moments, leaving Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker seething with frustration.
With the score tied 1-1 and the game seemingly heading to extra time, Chiefs earned a corner deep into stoppage time. From the resulting set-piece, there was immediate controversy when it appeared that Stellenbosch goalkeeper Sage Stephens had been fouled before Pule Mmodi bundled the ball into the net.
The assistant referee initially flagged for a foul, but after a lengthy consultation with the on-field official, the goal was awarded, much to the ire of the Stellenbosch players and management.
The decision left Stellenbosch furious, with a storm of protests directed at the match officials. To add insult to injury, Chiefs sealed the win just moments later.
With Stellenbosch throwing everything forward in search of an equalizer, Chiefs capitalized on a counter-attack. Mfundo Vilakazi, racing from his own half, calmly slotted the ball into an empty net to make it 3-1 and effectively end the contest.
The match had earlier seen Chiefs take the lead in the 17th minute when Ismael Toure was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box. Inacio Miguel stepped up to take the penalty, sending Stephens the wrong way to give Amakhosi a 1-0 advantage.
Stellenbosch, however, were never out of the game and continually tested Chiefs’ well-organized defense. Despite their efforts, they struggled to break down Chiefs’ backline until the dying moments of regular time.
With just three minutes left on the clock, Stellies earned a corner, and substitute Andre de Jong rose to flick the ball past Chiefs goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma, leveling the score at 1-1. The equalizer sparked wild celebrations from the Stellies bench, with the match now on the verge of extra time—or even a penalty shootout.
However, the drama was far from over. With the game heading into its final moments, Chiefs’ controversial goal in stoppage time and their subsequent breakaway sealed the victory. The decision to award the first goal to Chiefs will likely be a point of contention and will be analyzed in the coming days.
Stellenbosch head coach Steve Barker, visibly furious with the refereeing decisions, stormed off the pitch after a heated exchange with the officials, leaving the field in frustration as the final whistle blew.
For Kaizer Chiefs, this victory marks another crucial step in their quest to end their long trophy drought, which has now stretched to nearly a decade. The win also sees them join their Soweto rivals, Orlando Pirates, in the semifinals of the Nedbank Cup, as both teams look to secure silverware.