Carling Knockout opens today as Chiefs, Pirates and Sundowns await Tuesday ties

Golden Arrows and Chippa open the last 16 on Saturday. Chiefs, Pirates and Sundowns play on Tuesday after contrasting CAF results.

The Carling Knockout last 16 begins on Saturday, 24 October, with Golden Arrows hosting Chippa United, while Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns are scheduled to enter the domestic cup on Tuesday after their continental ties on Friday night.

Arrows and Chippa are due to kick off at 15:00 at King Zwelithini Stadium. Polokwane City then host Siwelele at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium at 18:00, according to the Premier Soccer League’s published programme. All times are South African time.

The weekend fixtures continue on Sunday, when Kruger United face AmaZulu at Mbombela Stadium at 15:00. Sekhukhune United play Richards Bay at New Peter Mokaba Stadium at 18:00.

The three Tuesday fixtures all have 19:00 starts. Holders Orlando Pirates host Milford at Orlando Amstel Arena, Sundowns meet Marumo Gallants at Loftus Versfeld, and Chiefs face TS Galaxy at FNB Stadium.

Durban City’s home tie against Stellenbosch at Chatsworth Stadium completes the round on Wednesday, 28 October, at 19:00.

Pirates go into the domestic cup programme with a CAF Champions League group-stage place secured. They beat Namibia’s African Stars 4–0 on Friday, 23 October, completing a 5–0 aggregate victory. Evidence Makgopa scored twice, while Thapelo Mokobodi and substitute Mpho Padime also scored, the club’s match report confirms.

Sundowns’ continental campaign ended after a 1–1 home draw with Angola’s Wiliete. With the first leg goalless, Wiliete advanced on away goals. That means Friday’s draw eliminated Sundowns rather than sending the tie to penalties.

Chiefs, by contrast, did go to a shootout in the CAF Confederation Cup. Their 1–0 win over Zambia’s Red Arrows in Durban levelled the aggregate score at 1–1, but Red Arrows won the penalties 3–2 to reach the group stage. Bradley Cross scored Chiefs’ goal in the return leg.