Stellenbosch FC advanced to the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals following a well-taken 2-0 win over visiting Polokwane City at the Danie Craven Stadium on Thursday night.
From the opening whistle, Stellenbosch imposed themselves on the match, but over-elaboration on the ball probably cost them a goal or two in the opening 10 minutes.
Polokwane tried hard to shake off Stellenbosch’s grip on the game, but was denied time and space to make an impression.
The early pressure on the Polokwane defence resulted in an own goal.
Bulelani Nikani, captain and centre-back, steered the ball into his net in the 13th minute after Nigerian Kazie Godswill, Stellenbosch’s right back, kicked the ball into the penalty box, and midfielder Devin Titus failed to connect.
Instead, the ball spurted through onto Nikani’s leg to make it 1-0 to the hosts.
Stellies claim an early lead at the Danie Craven Stadium 🍇💥
📺 Stream #NedbankCup on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/MSKPY6ug2m
Polokwane battled to recover from this setback, and the Cape Winelands outfit threatened further goals in the ensuing play, but appeared to lack a sense of urgency in the firing zone.
They still managed shots on target, but Manuel Sapunga, Polokwane’s Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper, pulled off several saves until the 37th minute, when Titus scored a classy goal from the edge of the penalty area.
A strike from Devin Titus and an own goal from Bulelani Nikani see us progress in the Nedbank Cup 🤩
— Stellenbosch FC (@StellenboschFC) February 13, 2025
Stellenbosch FC 2️⃣-0️⃣ Polokwane City pic.twitter.com/Yb7beUlj4T
By this time, Titus had been working his socks off, and he must have made a good impression on Bafana Bafana bigwigs Hugo Broos and Helman Mkhalele, who were sitting in the grandstand.
Titus made good on his pre-match promise after he was asked if he could offset Stellenbosch’s loss of prolific scorer Iqraam Rayners. His retort was: “I’m Devin Titus, so I’ll bring my own flavour to the game and to the team."
At this rate, Titus will select himself when next a national squad is named, with Bafana taking on Lesotho in a 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier in mid-March.
Everybody loves seeing a defender in the opposition's box 🤣
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) February 13, 2025
Ismaël Touré was close to a third for Stellies 👇
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Another Stellenbosch player to shine was left back Fawaaz Basadien, who produced a composed performance in the rearguard.
Around the hour mark, he stalked into the attack and ran on to a feed from Thabo Moloisane, before rifling the ball into the roof of the net.
Basadien was harshly ruled offside after referee Jelly Chavani acted on the call from his assistant.