Mlungisi Zwane of Casric Stars challenged by Mlondi Mbanjwa of AmaZulu during the Nedbank Cup 2026 quarter-final match at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
Image: BackpagePix
Casric Stars continued their giant-killing run in the Nedbank Cup, adding the scalp of AmaZulu to that of Orlando Pirates with a 2-1 win in extra time in the quarter-final at a blustery Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday afternoon.
The teams were tied at 1-all at the end of regulation time, with Mfundo Thikazi's opener for Casric Stars in the 11th minute cancelled out by veteran Pule Ekstein's equaliser for Usuthu early in the second half.
The match seemed destined for penalties before substitute Decide Chauke popped up to stab home the winner deep in the second half of extra-time for coach Joseph Mthombeni's Motsepe Foundation Championship side from Mpumalanga.
Casric Stars forward Lelethu Skelem proved a handful for the Usuthu defence with his pace on the counter. He set up Thikazi perfectly to score from a fast break in the 11th minute after the visitors had survived an early goalmouth scare.
Stars settled quicker in the windy conditions. But Arthur Zwane's Betway Premiership team grew into the match after the break, having had to cope with an injury to goalkeeper Darren Johnson, who had to be replaced by Richard Ofori in the first half.
Usuthu fans finally had something to cheer shortly after the restart when veteran Ekstein found the far-right corner of the net after a defence-splitting pass from Athini Maqokolo in the 48th minute.
The teams could not be separated as the match headed to extra time, where the minnows again showed their flare for the big occasion, as substitute Chauke netted the winner from close range to break Usuthu hearts.
With the Nedbank Cup behind them, AmaZulu will now have to channel all their energy towards finish in the top4 as always has been their target.