Frédéric Nsabiyumva scored in the 93rd minute to hand Chippa United a 2-1 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday afternoon, knocking the Absa Premiership champions out of the Nedbank Cup.
The Brazilians came into the game on a three-match winning streak after success in both the league and the Caf Champions League.
Chippa, on the other hand, were looking to draw on a positive result in the Nedbank Cup to help drive them forward in their push for survival in the Absa Premiership.
Pitso Mosimane named a changed line-up with Ricardo Nascimento replaced by Rivaldo Coetzee in defence, while Andile Jali and Phakamani Mahlambi were handed rare starts.
The Chilli Boys got off to the perfect start as they opened the scoring with just two minutes gone. Chippa were awarded a free-kick some distance out which was laid off to Rhulani Manzini who unleashed a pile driver which flew past Denis Onyango and into the bottom corner, 1-0.
Sundowns looked to respond quickly, but were struggling for fluency in the final third, while also showing poor decision-making.
The home side, however, continued to look a threat on the break and Tercious Malepe went close to netting his side’s second wit 31 minutes gone, but his long-range effort struck the cross bar with Onyango stranded.
This seemed to spark further life into Downs who went up the other end a minute later to grab the equaliser. Gaston Sirino played an impeccable cross-field ball which found the well-timed run of Mahlambi who made no mistake in arrowing his shot past Daniel Akpeyi into the bottom corner, 1-1.
The second half did not start to well for Sundowns who first lost Jali, with what looked like another hamstring injury, before Onyango was forced into a top save to keep the scores level.
Downs then began to build a bit of rhythm and came close to taking the lead with 58 minutes gone as Sirino picked out Mahlambi in the box, but the young forwards shot hit his own teammate Themba Zwane, clearing it off the line.
Both teams then began attacking in what was developing into an end-to-end affair.
Downs and Chippa were trading blows, but ultimately it looked as though the game was destined for extra-time. That was until the home side were awarded a late corner. A great ball in drew Onyango off his line, but the keeper misjudged the flight of the ball and was caught out when Frédéric Nsabiyumva’s touch found it’s way into the back of the net handing Chippa a famous victory.
Photo: Deryck Foster/BackpagePix