Vasco light up dark cup weekend for Cape Town

VASCO DA GAMA provided the only ray of sunshine on an otherwise dark weekend in the Nedbank Cup for Cape Town’s football teams.

Vasco thumped lower league opponents Mbombela United 4-1 at Kanyamazane Stadium outside Nelspruit yesterday, to become the only Cape side to reach the last-16 for the moment. Cape Town All Stars could double the tally on Wednesday, but it’s highly unlikely that they will beat Black Leopards at the old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

A brace from Jonathan Fransman, and goals by striker George Akpabio and Nathan Gertse propelled Vasco into the next round.

Ajax Cape Town became the first side to be knocked out of the tournament when they went down to Mamelodi Sun- downs 1-0 at the Cape Town Stadium on Friday night.

The scrappy encounter, played on a terrible pitch, was settled in the dying minutes of extra time thanks to a thunderous strike from Tebogo Langerman, whose swerving effort made Ajax goalkeeper Sander Westerveld look quite foolish.

The Urban Warriors were then followed by Chippa United, who were beaten 3-2 by National First Division outfit United FC on Saturday.

Yesterday, NFD contenders Milano United blew an early 1-0 lead to go down 4-1 to Premiership outfit Bloemfontein Celtic at the Free State Stadium.

Alcardo van Graan gave Milano the lead in the fifth minute, but the home side scored two goals either side of the break to secure their passage into the next round.