More cup upsets lurk in SA, UK

Lower-league teams are flourishing in the Nedbank and FA Cups and more big guns are set to be spiked in the last-16 stage of both competitions.

he remaining contenders in the main cup competitions in both England and South Africa comprise far more lower-league teams than usual as many of the top-flight contenders have departed early. The last 16 of the Nedbank Cup features eight clubs from the top flight, seven from the National First Division and one amateur club in George Dearnaley’s The Magic. They have a dream draw against cup kings Kaizer Chiefs, but have been let down badly because there is no stadium available on Sunday for them to host the game in Cape Town.

Instead, they have had to shift the encounter to Port Elizabeth.

Four of the PSL teams go up against each other, which means that another two will depart before next month’s quarter-finals - Black Leopards host Bidvest Wits in Thohoyandou tomorrow night and Highlands Park visit Cape Town City on Friday.

Already Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United are out, leaving a wide-open field and the possibility of more shocks to come.

Among the difficult assignments that will give punters food for thought are when Lamontville Golden Arrows, who lost narrowly for the first time on Sunday since Steve Komphela took over as coach, travel to take on Witbank Spurs and the clash between Bloemfontein Celtic, who have a poor home record of late, and the unpredictable Richards Bay.

In the previous round, NFD side Richards Bay were also away against top-flight opposition and came from a goal down to eliminate holders Free State Stars.

In the fifth round of the FA Cup, seven of the remaining 16 sides are from the Premier League, but the draw has thrown Chelsea up against Manchester United next Monday night in a repeat of last year’s final.

Manchester City will be favourites and are at lowly Newport County at the weekend. Newport last played in the fifth round 70 years ago and could be in for the same treatment that Pep Guardiola’s team dished out to Burton Albion in the League Cup when they won 9-0.

But TAB soccer customers will be wary about what will happen to the likes of Brighton and Hove Albion, Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers in their clashes with lower-tier rivals. To take a bet, go to www.bettingworld.co.za or www.tabonline.co.za or www.soccer6.co.za