Weekend Wrap: The 'Tito' show, Sirino returns, Downs in the trenches!

In this week's Weekend Wrap, we zoom in on Gaston Sirino's return as Kaizer Chiefs obliterate Free Agents FC, Patrick Maswanganyi's heroics, and how Mamelodi Sundowns were given a run for their money in the Nedbank Cup.

Chiefs dish out Free (Agents) lesson

If there were any questions on Chiefs' readiness for the Soweto Derby, they were answered on Sunday as they put four past ABC Motsepe League side Free Agents in the Last 32 of the Nedbank Cup at FNB Stadium.

READ | Chiefs coach: We had meetings at the hotel...

Granted, it was a third-tier opposition, but Nasreddine Nabi's troops proved clinical in front of goal and stingy in defence as Pule Mmodi struck twice, before Inacio Miguel and Ranga Chivaviro put the result to bed.

For Miguel's goal, however, there appeared to be a tinge of offside after he was played through by Happy Mashiane to head home.

Further controversy followed as the visitors' striker Saheed Adebayo was shown a red card for protesting the goal. 

The Naturena-based outfit were without Mduduzi Shabalala, presumably rested for the derby after accumulating three yellow cards, and will be nervous too about Wandile Duba, who had to be stretchered off the field due to an injury.

On a positive note, though, Gaston Sirino was back pulling the strings in midfield. 

Maswanganyi the hero as Bucs progress 

Orlando Pirates flexed their dominance once more with a 3-1 victory over Richards Bay FC in their Nedbank Cup Last 32 encounter at King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday.

It was another Man of the Match display for sensational Relebohile Mofokeng and another controversial display from Maswanganyi, who was booked by referee Jelly Chavani for simulation in the early stages.

That was before he redeemed himself with a well-taken brace. 

However, the Tembisa-born star's penchant for over-elaborate tricks on the ball nearly saw his concede on the counter after he was dispossessed near the centre line.

Tshegofatso Mabasa added a third goal in the dying minutes after the home side had pulled one back via rising star Yanela Mbuthuma. 

Sibanye fail to bring the sun down 

Meanwhile, last year's runners-up Sundowns needed second-half heroics to battle past an ambitious Sibanye Golden Stars outfit in a 5-2 display at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

They put three past their lower division opponents by half-time thanks to a Tashreeq Matthews brace and Malibongwe Khoza's opener. 

However, a galvanized Sibanye Golden Stars side came out fighting in the second stanza and pulled two back through Mojalefa Mokhatla and Boeletsan Rankali, who each scored within the space of 10 minutes, giving their more fancied opposition a big scare.

To make matters worse, Bathusi Aubaas received his marching orders after an off-the-ball incident. 

Downs, however, proved their calibre and pressed on.

Arthur Sales and Kobamelo Kodisang each found the back of the net to silence any hopes of a fairy-tale for their ambitious visitors.

Polokwane City's surprise decision over Oswin Appollis

Polokwane City progressed to the Last 16 with a 1-0 win over ABC Motsepe side The Bees, but had to do it without star man Oswin Appollis, whom the club confirmed would be pulled out of the starting XI after being named in the initial team sheet.

This further fueled the speculation around his future with the likes of Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns understood to be pulling out all the stops to sign the Bafana Bafana star before the transfer window slams shut on Tuesday.

Whether Appollis was sidelined due to a knock picked up during warm-up or being saved from injury ahead of a possible move remains anyone's guess.

READ | Kaze issues update on Chiefs progress

Other Nedbank Cup results:

Pretoria Callies 0-1 Marumo Gallants

Golden Arrows 1-2 Chippa United

Venda Football Club 1-3 Cape Town Spurs

Umvoti 0-3 Baroka FC

Lerumo Lions 0-2 Durban City

Mpheni Home Defenders 3-1 Hungry Lions

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