Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Nov 08, 2026.
Kaizer Chiefs (1)
(Duba pen. 45+1’, Velebayi 84’)
Siwelele (1)
(Ndebele 12’)
Carling Knockout Cup, Quarterfinal (8.11.26)
New Peter Mokaba stadium, Polokwane
Asanele Velebayi came off the bench to score a late winner, sending Kaizer Chiefs through to the semifinals of the 2026 Carling Knockout Cup after defeating Siwelele 2-1 at the new Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Sunday evening. They will face Mamelodi Sundowns for a place in the final.
In an action-packed first half, Siwelele took the lead through Siyabonga Ndebele before Wandile Duba equalised from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time, but not before Mduduzi Shabalala has missed from the spot nine minutes earlier. Chiefs dominated the second half and were rewarded with Velebayi’s winner after 83 minutes.
From the lively start it was clear both teams had come to play, and it was Amakhosi who were first to threaten in the 3rd minute through Shabalala, who whipped in a shot from wide on the left following a short corner routine that was tipped over by Siwelele goalkeeper, Jody February.
At the other end, Brandon Petersen pulled off a stunning save three minutes later from a Sphesihle Jeza shot after Chiefs failed to clear a corner. Five minutes later, Petersen had to be sharp at his near post to keep out a Pule effort, but from the resulting corner, Ndebele rose to head powerfully into the far corner of the net to give the visitors the lead.
Amakhosi tried immediately to wipe out the deficit and came close when Mfundo Vilakazi curled a free kick just wide in the 18th minute, and Duba nodded over from a Pule Mmodi flick at a corner three minutes later.
Amakhosi won their first penalty on 36 minutes when Vilakazi was tripped by Vincent Pule as he drove into the box, however, Shabalala blasted the ball over the bar and the chance to equalise was put on hold.
Having escaped, Siwelele elected to sit back and attempt to see out the first half and it almost paid off. Yrt, in the second, and final, minute of first-half stoppage time, Ndebele mis-timed a tackle on Shablalala inside the box and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot a second time. Duba stepped up to despatch the ball down the middle with virtually the last kick of the half, which ended 1-1.
The goal energised Amakhosi, who largely dominated the second half. Three minutes in, Dillan Solomons cut in from the right but could not steer his shot inside the far post and in the 55th minute, Mmodi rifled a shot just wide from 20 yards out. Solomons curled a free kick wide after Duba had been cruelly hacked down when he beat Thabiso Sesane and drove towards goal. Duba was then found by Dortley in the 72nd minute with a ball over the top but could not generate enough power on his header to trouble February.
Chiefs will be first to admit they received a helping hand with the decisive goal. Under no pressure, Sabre Benjamin played a terrible pass across his own goal which was gleefully picked up by substitute Flavio Da Silva, who played a perfect ball into the path of Velebayi to stroke into the net and set off on a wild celebration.
Da Silva came close to adding a third a minute later, and Zakele Lepasa almost poked Siwelele back to level terms in the 90th minute, but in the end Amakhosi were well worth their victory and a place in the last four.
Line-ups
Subs not used: Bvuma (44); Nkgwesa (38), Ngcobo (12), Abrahams (35) Ighodaro (50)
Coach: Fernando Da Cruz
Siwelele: February (1); Mfolozi (2), Khonyane (5) (Benjamin (21) 84’), Sesane (4), Ndebele (33) (Ngcobo (80) 46’), Mokhuoane (8) (Kobedi (26) 57’), Pule (10), Jeza (17) (Lepasa (9) 76’), Leshedi (36), Marou (47) (Saile (11) 46’), Mazibuko (12)
Subs not used: Mthombeni (50); Makhuvele (35), Lupalule (22), Thulo (20)
Coach: Godfrey Masoetsa
