Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya provided late heroics to help AmaZulu advance to the Nedbank Cup round of 16 as they overcame 10-man Polokwane City with a 2-1 win in extra time at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Tuesday.
Usuthu claimed a first ever away victory against Rise and Shine, walking away with the bragging rights in their first ever cup meeting and ending Polokwane City’s unbeaten run at home in the 2025/26 season.
FULL-TIME ⏰ | #NedbankCup2026 🏆
— AmaZulu FC (@AmaZuluFootball) February 10, 2026
We are through to the next round!
Polokwane City 1️⃣ ➖ 2️⃣ #AmaZuluFC#BetwayPrem #HebeUsuthu #UsuthuTogether pic.twitter.com/KpoP8cKFwT
While the hosts played valiantly with a man short for 88 minutes, AmaZulu always looked like the more threatening side going forwards but struggled to convert their chances.
Taariq Fielies put the visitors ahead in the 10th minute with his second ever Nedbank Cup goal and his second goal of the season.
Sandile Mthethwa flicked the ball on at the near post from a corner, finding Fielies open at the back post. The defender tucked the ball into the top right corner with a well-placed header.
The visitors were denied a second goal in the 20th minute as Nkosikhona Radebe’s cross allowed Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya to turn and shoot shot, but his attempt was blocked by Mpho Mvundlela’s outstretched boot
Rise and Shine were reduced to 10 men in the 32nd minute as 20-year-old Monty Batlhabane was sent off for a reckless, studs-up challenge on Liam Bern, catching his knee. Bern was able to continue after receiving treatment on the sideline
Either shooting or trying to find Athini Maqokola in the box, Riaan Hanamub nearly caught goalkeeper Lindokuhle Mathebula out as his effort narrowly missed the target from a tight angle in the 36th minute.
The hosts were awarded a penalty in the 44th minute as Hanamub caught Thabang Matuludi’s foot, bringing him down in the box.
Lebohang Nkaki stepped up and sent Darren Johnson the wrong way to level the score in the 45th minute.
Ngwenya missed a chance to restore Usuthu’s lead in stoppage time. Mondli Mbanjwa pulled the ball back from the byline, finding Ngwenya whose header traveled narrowly over the bar.
NGWENYA WINNER
In the 50th minute, Hanamub’s left-footed freekick from the edge of the area came close to finding the target but grazed the side-netting.
He hit the side-netting again one minute later, as Radebe’s looping cross was just too far in front of him at the far post.
Polokwane City were nearly punished for a mistake at the back in the 58th minute. Mathebula’s clearance to Mvundlela was too hard, forcing a heavy touch and allowing Ngwenya to get the ball and charge forward. He found Radebe across the box, who hit the right upright.
In the 75th minute, Radebe wriggled through two defenders at the edge of the area before firing a shot towards the bottom left corner, however he dragged his effort narrowly wide.
From the resulting goalkick, Manuel Kambala unleashed Thabelo Tshikweta with a longball into the box. Tshikweta hit it first time, squandering the opportunity for a late winner, sending the ball high and wide to the right.
In the 87th minute, Mathebula was forced into action again, keeping out a cracking long-range effort from Hanamub.
With neither side able to score in the second half, the fixture progressed to extra time.
Usuthu continued to enjoy the better chances, but could not convert in first-half stoppage time.
In the 111th minute of extra time, substitute Thabiso Kutumela hit a well struck freekick from far out, but was denied by Mathebula.
Usuthu bagged the winner in the 113th minute, courtesy of Ngwenya. Radebe showed beautiful skill to beat his defender at the edge of the area, and fired in to Ngwenya in the six yard box, who guided the ball into the back of the net with an all-important touch.
Substitute Andiswa Sithole nearly added a third from close range in the 116th minute but was ruled offside.
In the dying moments, Polokwane City were awarded a free kick in a dangerous area. Nkwe’s cross was sent in to the area and Matuludi went for the spectacular, but could not connect with a bicycle kick attempt.
AmaZulu will discover their opponent for the next round at the round of 16 draw at SuperSport’s studios on Wednesday.
Polokwane City (1) (Nkaki 45’)
AmaZulu (1) 2 (Fielies 10’, Ngwenya 113’)
Polokwane City: L. Mathebula, T, Matuludi, T. Nkwe, L. Nkaki, M. Mvundlela, M. Bathlabane, B. Mnguni (S. Mashini 55’), R. Maphangule, B. Dlamini, K. Sebone (M. Kambala 46’), T. Tshikweta (S. Tshabalala 90+2’)
AmaZulu: D. Johnson, N. Radebe, R. Hanamub, S. Mthethwa, T. Fielies, K. Allen (A. Sithole 75’), L. Bern, L. Mhlongo (S. Zikhali 100’), T. Ngwenya, A. Maqokola (T. Mashigo 60’, T. Kutumela 100’), M. Mbanjwa (H. Ekstein 60’)