Santos advance in Nedbank Cup

Iqraam Rayners helped Santos secure a well-earned 1-0 victory over Mthatha Bucks in the Nedbank Cup last-32 at the Athlone Stadium.

Cape Town - A brilliant solo goal by Iqraam Rayners handed Santos a well-earned 1-0 victory over Mthatha Bucks in the Nedbank Cup last-32 at the Athlone Stadium on Wednesday night.

With both teams campaigning in the National First Division – and not doing very well at the moment, with Santos languishing in 10th position and Bucks 15th in the 16-team league – a good cup run always comes in handy in terms of putting the club in the spotlight, not to mention the financial rewards.

So the People’s Team will be delighted to advance to the last-16, as they are 20 points behind NFD log leaders Baroka FC and 13 behind third-placed Highlands Park, so possible promotion to the Premiership is unlikely at this stage of the season.

On Wednesday night, right winger Rayners, who had been a threat on attack all night for the home side, launched a wonderful strike towards the Bucks penalty area, and some of the defenders thought that it may go out for a goal-kick.

Instead, the ball curled majestically back into the danger area, and had so much spin and swerve on it that it caught Bucks goalkeeper Mlungisi Maranti off his line.

Maranti tried to back-peddle, but it was too late as the ball dropped over his head and into the net for a fantastic goal by Rayners.

Both sides had a number of chances throughout, with the Eastern Cape team pushing hard for the equaliser. But they were denied by Santos goalkeeper Tashrique Goldman, who was named as the Man of the Match.

In the other last-32 encounter on the night, Maritzburg United dispatched Black Leopards 3-1 at the Harry Gwala Stadium. Maritzburg captain Kurt Lentjies grabbed a brace and was named the Man of the Match.

The Nedbank Cup last-32 round continues this weekend, with the stand-out fixtures being Orlando Pirates against Kaizer Chiefs in a Soweto Derby on Saturday (3pm kickoff), while Ajax Cape Town host Free State Stars at Athlone Stadium on the same day (6pm).

ashfak.mohamed@inl.co.za

@IndyCapeSport