Pretoria University added to Moroka Swallows' woes when they beat them 2-1 in the first round of the Nedbank Cup at Tuks Stadium, Pretoria, last night.
Midfielder Thabo Mosadi netted AmaTuks' first goal in the seventh minute, Rudi Isaacs equalised for the Birds in the 35th and Atusaye Nyondo scored a 74th-minute winner.
Fani Madida's relegation-threatened Birds' focus is on turning around poor league form.
But Sammy Troughton's neat and compact Tuks were not always convincing. Tuks should never have allowed themselves to go into the break locked at 1-1 with Swallows.
The side created enough chances but could only profit from Mosadi's early goal.
Swallows equalised through centre-back Isaacs's powerful header. The Birds have suffered a fourth successive defeat.
- Tshepang Mailwane reports that Kingston Nkhatha is having the time of his life at Supersport United - he is scoring goals, too.
The former Kaizer Chiefs striker netted two quickfire goals in the first half at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, last night.
His team, Matsatsantsa, came from a goal down to hammer Polokwane City 4-1 in this Nedbank Cup last 32 tie.
Nkhatha now has three goals in as many games for United, the same number of goals he scored at Amakhosi in all competitions in the first half of the season.
United were a goal down a quarter of an hour into the game when Rendani Ndou produced a moment of brilliance, unleashing a powerful shot with his left foot and giving United goalie Ronwen Williams no chance.
Two minutes after scoring, Ndou could have extended the visitors' lead after Jabulani Maluleke played him through, but he shot straight at Williams.
City's lead lasted only 10 minutes before their defence capitulated.
Nkhatha's tame shot somehow found its way into the back of the net. City goalkeeper Modiri Marumo was to blame for the goal.
Two minutes later Nkhatha completed his brace with a header at the near post. Nkhatha should have at least netted a hat-trick before halftime.
He was first denied by Marumo 10 minutes before the break and then squandered a glorious opportunity on the stroke of halftime from close range.
The Zimbabwean did not return for the second half because of a groin injury.
But this was no problem at all for United, who scored a third goal six minutes into the second half through their in-form striker Jeremy Brockie.
The New Zealand-born forward, now on three goals in three matches, tapped home from close range after Dove Wome played in a good cross from the left.
Wome completed the rout just after the hour-mark, running almost half the pitch to score his side's fourth.
City have not gone past the first round of a knockout competition since they won promotion last season.
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 
