Stellies hammer Milford ... to reach Ke Yona quarter-finals

DURBAN – Stellenbosch FC hammered Milford FC 6-1 in a Nedbank Cup Last 16 match played at the Princess Magogo Stadium last night.

The well-deserved win saw the DStv Premiership outfit join the University of Pretoria and AmaZulu FC in the quarter-finals. Stellies will resume their topflight campaign with a match against Royal AM at home on March 30.

The Stallions, on the other hand, saw their fairytale run in the South African FA Cup come to an end. Xanti Pupuma’s side will be away to the University of Pretoria in the Motsepe Foundation Championship on April 2.

Stellies got off to a bright start with Iqraam Rayners making dangerous runs in the Stallions’ box. The deadlock was broken in the 20th minute when Rayners set up Devin Rayners who netted to hand Stellenbosch a 1-0 lead.

Inspired

The visitors did not take their foot off the pedal after taking the lead as inspired substitute Anicet Oura made it 2-0 to Stellenbosch in the 34th minute. However, Stellies went to sleep at the back on the stroke of halftime and saw Menzi Chili pulled one back to make it 2-1.

Stellies responded by restoring their two-goal cushion in firsthalf stoppage through Oura with the Ivorian winger grabbing a first-half brace to make it 3-1 to Stellenbosch. Livewire Rayners had remarkably grabbed three assists in the first-half.

Steve Barker’s side exerted early pressure on the Milford defence after the restart and Andre De Jong made it 4-1 to Stellenbosch in the 46th minute.

Conceded

The early goal rattled the Stallions backline which conceded again in the 48th minute with De Jong making 5-1 to Stellenbosch with Rayners grabbing his fourth assist.

The hosts tried to pull one back in the latter stages of the match, but Stellies stood firm at the back. Substitute Mervin Boji sealed Stellenbosch’s emphatic 6-1 victory in the 88th minute with the Milford defence exposed once again.