Duba hat-trick eases Chiefs into Carling Knockout quarters

Wandile Duba scored his first senior career hat-trick as Kaizer Chiefs bounced back from their CAF Confederation Cup heartbreak to storm into the Carling Knockout quarter-final.

The Chiefs forward delivered the killer blow to TS Galaxy inside 18 second-half minutes of the Round of 16 clash at the FNB Stadium on Tuesday.

Pule Mmodi of Kaizer Chiefs in action against TS Galaxy in the Carling Knockout. Image: Kaizer Chiefs

After a goalless first half, where neither side offered a threat on goal, Chiefs turned on the style in the second half.

It took the Glamour Boys just three minutes after restart to break the deadlock when the Duba act started.

Missed penalty but Duba reacts quickest

Wandile Duba celebrates one of his three goals in the Carling Knockout against TS Galaxy. Image: Kaizer Chiefs

Mduduzi Shabalala and Pule Mmodi played a beautiful one-two pass on the edge of the box before the latter’s cutback in the box and the ball fell to Duba at the near post for an easy tap in.

On the hour mark, Chiefs were awarded a penalty after Veluyeke Zulu was penalised for hacking down Shabalala in the box as he attempted to go for the ball.

Mfundo Vilakazi stepped up for the penalty but saw his effort saved by the Galaxy goalkeeper. However, the custodian was unlucky as the ball rebounded off the post and Duba reacted quickest to slam it home for 2-0.

Sibongiseni Mthethwa of Kaizer Chiefs in the Carling Knockout against TS Galaxy. Image: Kaizer Chiefs

It took Chiefs five minutes to put the game beyond the Rockets’ reach when Rushwin Dortley, playing his first game since March 2025, threaded a good ball to Shabalala and the attacking midfielder then played it well behind the Galaxy defence.

Chiefs warm up well for Soweto Derby

This left Duba one-on-one with the goalkeeper and he made no mistake for his first hat-trick to send Chiefs into the quarter-final wit his sixth goal of the season.

Thabo Moloisane of Kaizer Chiefs in the Carling Knockout against TS Galaxy. Image: Kaizer Chiefs

It was just the response that coach Fernando da Cruz was looking for, having been backed by the club in the wake of their exit from the Confederation Cup at the preliminary round.

Chiefs will now wait to know who they will get in the Carling Knockout quarter-final but it is a good warm up for Saturday’s Soweto Derby as they will head into the big game full of confidence.