Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, the most popular South African football clubs, crashed out of the national cup in the second round on Saturday.
Chiefs lost 4-3 at second division Pretoria University while Premiership strugglers Bloemfontein Celtic came from behind to sink Pirates 2-1 in the university town of Potchefstroom.
On a weekend of shocks in the richest African national cup competition, lower-league sides Black Leopards and Winners Park also qualified for the quarter-finals with lowly Premiership outfit Maritzburg United.
The best performance came from Pretoria University, who overcame several defensive blows and the sending off of captain Obert Moyo to send Chiefs packing at Super Stadium.
Botswana-born substitute Phenyo Mongala was the hero as he scored the 86th-minute winner after a superb solo run that dazzled several Chiefs defenders.
Mongala cut in from the wing and when his close-range shot was blocked by South Africa goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, he poked the rebound over the line in a crowded goalmouth.
Mthokozisi Yende, Mongala and Thabo Moleko were the other scorers for the varsity team who took an early lead, trailed 2-1 at half-time and led again before Chiefs equalised off a dubious penalty.
Chiefs scored through a Giya Mngoma own goal, Venezuelan striker Jose Torrealba and midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala, who was included in the national squad Thursday for friendlies against Norway and Portugal.
In-form Pirates looked set for another success when they took an 11th-minute lead over Celtic as striker Siphelele Mthembu deflected a shot from team-mate Teko Modise into the corner of the net.
Celtic came close to levelling almost immediately through a Darryl Smith free kick that was brilliantly parried by Moeneeb Josephs and a Mark Mayambela shot rattled the crossbar.
Backed by the most fanatical football supporters in South Africa, Celtic plugged away and after Patrick Malokose equalised with 13 minutes left, Smith struck the late winner when a free kick was not cleared.
Black Leopards eliminated Bay United 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, Winners Park edged Ikapa Sporting 2-1 and Maritzburg came from behind to defeat Santos by the same score in other last 16 ties.
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