Kabelo Mahlasela of Royal AM. Photo: @City_Press/Twitter

Kabelo Mahlasela of Royal AM. Photo: @City_Press/Twitter

Ex-Kaizer Chiefs man sends Royal AM into Nedbank Cup Last 8

Royal AM are through to the quarter-finals of the Nedbank Cup following their 1-0 win over Swallows FC in a match played on Friday night.

Kabelo Mahlasela of Royal AM. Photo: @City_Press/Twitter

Kabelo Mahlasela of Royal AM. Photo: @City_Press/Twitter

Royal AM are through to the quarter-finals of the Nedbank Cup following their 1-0 win over Swallows FC in a match played on Friday night.

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Former Kaizer Chiefs man Kabelo Mahlasela scored the only goal of the game as Royal AM continued their fairytale season in the PSL.

This was an all-PSL affair, and it was expected to be a tactical encounter with two experienced coaches facing each other for a place in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals.

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In addition, Swallows headed into the encounter seeking revenge after losing to Royal AM 1-0 in the league last Sunday.

Dylan Kerr made just three changes to the Swallows side that lost Royal AM with Jody February, Musa Nyatama and Junaid Sait cracking the nod.

Swallows kept Royal AM on their toes in the early stages of the game but the visitors did well to soak up the pressure while at the same keeping their opponents away from goal.

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Both teams relied heavily on transitions and that meant very few goalscoring chances created in and around the penalty box.

The half’s only real chance fell for Royal AM’s Jabulani Ncobeni on the stroke of half-time but February was on hand to make a good save.

Swallows started the second half the same way they started the first, and Royal AM was smart in their defending as they let them play outside the box.

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Kerr’s men were rewarded for their dominance in the 60th-minute when Ncobeni was adjudged to have handled the ball inside his own box.

Lebogang Mokoena stepped up to take the resulting penalty but his tame effort was easily saved by Royal AM goalkeeper Hugo Nyame.

Royal AM started threatening after the introduction of Bafana Bafana attacker Victor Letsoalo and Ndumiso Mabena in the final 20 minutes of the game.

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And Royal AM were rewarded as Mahlasela found the back of the net 11 minutes from time following a good combination play with Mxolisi Macuphu.

Nyame denied Thabo Mosadi what would have been an equaliser for Swallows in the latter stages of the game to help Royal AM book their place in the quarter-finals.

STARTING XI: SWALLOWS VS ROYAL AM

Swallows XI: February, Sait, Sasman, Solomons, Nyatama, Mokoena, Mahlatsi, Saleng, Ndlovu, Musonda.

Subs: Ngobeni, Mohamme, Khupe, Mbhele, Matlou, Mosadi, Mhlongo, Gamildien, Malinga.

Royal AM XI: Nyame, Thikazi, Matlaba, Ncobeni, Manganyi, Monamodi, Mashikinya, Rikhotso, Kobedi, Pelembe, Macuphu.

Subs: Huegh, Letsoalo, Mogaila, Maxwele, Mahlasela, Masuku, Shezi, Mabena, Matjila.