By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Kaizer Chiefs were the last team to book their ticket into Nedbank Cup semifinals, after beating Royal AM 2-1 in extra-time at Chatsworth Stadium on Sunday.
Chiefs reached their fifth semi-final and the first since 2012/13 when they won the competition.
Immediately after the final whistle, the draw for the semi-finals took place, with the draw giving us a Soweto Derby.
There will be a new winner of the Ye Yona Cup after defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns were knocked out by Stellenbosch FC on Saturday.
Earlier on Saturday, Orlando Pirates booked their fifth Nedbank Cup semi-final after beating ABC Motsepe League side Dondol Stars 5-4 on penalties.
On Sunday, Sekhukhune United became the third side to reach this stage of the competition for the first time, thanks to a 2-1 win over Chippa United.
Royal AM were looking to reach the semifinals for the second year running, while Chiefs sought to take a step closer to lifting the trophy for the first time since 2013.
The first half was a cagey affair as the two teams battled for midfield supremacy, with Amakhosi just shading the possession stakes.
The Durban crowd had to wait until the 28th minute for the first attempt at goal and it brought the opener as Manganyi glanced his header into the bottom right corner of the net from a corner.
However, the visitors hit back through fortuitous circumstances eight minutes later when Matlaba got his header all wrong in an attempt to guide Edmilson Dove’s cross back to Zakahle Ngcobo and only succeded in putting past his own goalkeeper.
Manganyi threatened to restore the KZN outfit’s lead in the final minute of the half but he was unable to beat Brandon Petersen on this occasion after getting on the end of Mokete Mogaila’s cross.
Thwihli Thwahla were quickly on the attack in the second half as Mogaila cleared the target from range after the ball came out to him from a 50th-minute corner before Siphesihle Msomi tested Petersen two minutes later with a shot from outside the box.
The Soweto giants finally managed their first attempt at goal on 76 minutes and Siyethemba Sithebe was just a whisker away from giving them the lead when his strike from range hit the crossbar, while Christian Saile drew a fine save out of Ngcobo with a shot from inside the area on the left moemts later.
Mxolisi Macuphu tried his luck from distance on 85 minutes in an effort to win the game in regulation time but dragged his shot wide of the left post.
Chiefs took the lead in extra time when Yusuf Maart converted from the penalty spot in the 102nd minute and held on to the lead to progress into the semifinals of the Nedbank Cup.
Nedbank Cup Semi-final Draw
Kaizer Chiefs vs. Orlando Pirates.
Stellencbosch FC vs. Sekhukhune United.