Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Oct 27, 2026.
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Kaizer Chiefs (0) 3
(Duba 48’, 62’, 66’)
TS Galaxy (0) 0
Carling Knockout Cup, Round of 16 (27.10.26)
FNB stadium, Nasrec
Mercurial striker Wandile Duba scored a second -half hattrick to take Kaizer Chiefs to a 3-0 victory over TS Galaxy in their Round of 16 Carling Knockout Cup encounter at FNB stadium on Tuesday evening.
Putting recent disappointments firmly behind them, Amakhosi produced a statement performance, highlighted by some clinical finishing by Duba, who struck in the 48th, 62nd and 66th minutes.
The match got off to a bright start in front of a healthy home crowd who had come out in a show of support for Amakhosi and had the feel of a real ‘blood and guts’ cup tie as both teams frantically tried to gain an early upper hand.
For all the endeavour though, neither team allowed the other to settle into any rhythm and the opening 20 minutes failed to produce a shot on target at either end as the midfield tussle dominated the tone of the match, although the livewire Duba stung the palms of Rockets ‘keeper, Melusi Mathebula with a rasping drive from long range in the 21st minute and Mduduzi Shabalala had a goal bound effort blocked a minute later, while Pule Mmodi cleared the crossbar from 20 yards out in the 36th minute. At the Chiefs end, it took until first-half stoppage time for Brandon Petersen to be called into action as he dived to his right to keep out Thulani Zandamela’s shot.
The desire from both sides punctuated the play with constant niggly fouls and injury delays, explaining the stop-start nature of an evenly matched first half that saw three yellow cards brandished but no goals of which to speak.
The complexion of the match changed soon after the resumption of play as Amakhosi took the lead three minutes in through Duba. Shabalala and Mmodi worked some space on the right for the latter to cut the ball back across goal where Duba was able to turn and steer the ball home to open the scoring.
The attrition in the middle of the park continued as the foul count passed twenty and another two names went into the referee’s book, but the balance had tilted in favour of Chiefs and they won a penalty just passed the hour mark when Shabalala was brought down in the box by Veluyeke Zulu. Mfundo Vilakazi, who as usual has posed a constant threat when running at defenders all game, stepped up but unfortunately saw his spot-kick parried onto the post and back into play. His despair turned to joy seconds later when Duba scored from the rebound.
Dynamic Duba completed his 18-minute hattrick in the 66th minute with a beautiful sweeping goal, set up by Shabalala’s silky through ball from halfway that put Duba in behind the defence and the striker buried the ball in the back of the net with authority past a helpless Mathebula.
Amkhosi, flying high to the tune of their singing fans, could have had even more. In the last five minutes, substitute, Asanele Velebayi shot wide and fellow sub Thulani Mabaso got closer forcing replacement goalkeeper Sipho Maseti into a save.
In the end, Duba’s triple contribution was enough to send the Amakhosi Faithful home with smiles on their faces and the team takes a step closer to possible success with a place in the quarterfinals secured.
It is a result, and more importantly a performance, that imbues the Club with a sense of confident resolve going into the eagerly awaited first Soweto Derby of the season against Orlando Pirates on Saturday.
Line-ups
Subs not used: Bvuma (44); Nkgwesa (38), Solomons (18), Abrahams (35)
Coach: Fernando Da Cruz
TS Galaxy: Mathebula (32) (Maseti (1) 74’); Mncwango (3) (Zulu (45) 21’) (Xulu (13) 78’), Mhlongo (25), Mathebula (24), Mbunjana © (8), Zidoga (21), Kakora (14), Rantoa (15) (Tati (10) 46’), Mahlambi (7), Zandamela (29) (George (19) 46’), Letsoalo (17)
Subs not used: Mahlangu (4), Nkosi (6), Mvelase (2), Williams (11)
Coach: Esau Mtsweni
