Defending champions Stellenbosch FC sneak into Carling Knockout quarter-finals after edging out Arthur Zwane's AmaZulu FC

At a wet King Zwelithini Stadium in KwaZulu-Natal, AmaZulu hosted defending champions Stellenbosch, but it was the visitors who looked more determined, settling quickly and putting pressure on Usuthu's defence which saw Devon Titus hand Stellies a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute.

AmaZulu's co-coaches, Arthur Zwane and Vusumuzi Vilakazi, made changes at the break, introducing Etiosa Ighodaro and Wayde Jooste. Just six minutes later, Jooste played a perfectly timed through ball to Tshepang Moremi, who leveled the score.

Both goalkeepers, Sage Stephens and Richard Ofori, continued to deliver crucial saves, keeping the match deadlocked. After 90 minutes, the sides were still level, forcing an additional 30 minutes to decide who would progress to the quarterfinals.

Ninety minutes was not enough to separate the two sides as they needed another thirty to separate them and see who would progress to the last eight. Seven minutes into the first half of extra time, Andre De Jong headed the ball past Ofori to make the score 2-1, who had a great time in between the poles.

De Jong, the 27-year-old was on form to send his side to the last eight, in the first half he gave an assist to Titus and in the first half of extra time he scored the winner for Stellies.

Arthur Zwane and Vusumuzi Vilakazi, the AmaZulu co-head coaches could not come up with a plan to defeat Steve Barker who is on a quest to defend his trophy.

After being announced as the duo to take the Durban-based outfit to the promise, Zwane and Vilakazi's start has been rocky, and back to the drawing board for the co-coaches.

Stellies are on the right course to defend their title, with that done next up is a PSL game away to Chippa United, while AmaZulu will take on Orlando Pirates in Soweto in a league clash.