AMAZULU and Bloemfontein Celtic confirmed their places in the quarterfinals of Telkom Knockout yesterday with slender respective wins over Platinum Stars and Chippa United .

Now the spotlight will fall on Mamelodi Sundowns and University of Pretoria who will fight for the last quarterfinal place tomorrow night (7.30 kickoff).

At Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium yesterday, Sbu Mjikeliso reports that an improved AmaZulu put on a gusty performance in beating Stars 2-1, a result that gave under-fire coach Roger Palmgren something to smile about.

It was the first win Palmgren presided over this season as he was absent and his assistant Fanie Madida was in charge when they recorded their only other win before yesterday - 2-1 over Moroka Swallows a month ago.

With the score locked at 1-1, Ayanda Dlamini beat the Stars offside trap and put in a calm side-foot finish a minute into extra time.

Dlamini had two fantastic chances in the first half but he took neither. However, strike partner Mkhokheli Dube was the chief culprit at throwing away scoring opportunities.

On the touchline Palmgren was clapping his players on, desperately sensing that Stars would make them pay for the truck-load of chances they were wasting.

And they did six minutes into the second half when Thuso Phala latched onto a Robert Ng'ambi headed layoff and smacked the ball across Philani Zikalala and into the AmaZulu goal.

Usuthu huffed and puffed for half an hour in search of an equaliser and they got it when Thokozani Mshengu riffled a shot that was too hot for Stars goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane to handle.

• In Cape Town, Mark Gleeson writes that Celtic ended their horror cup run by coming from behind to score two late goals and eliminate Chippa United 2-1 at the Philippi Stadium, ending hopes of a fairytale return home for the Chilli Boys.

Dominic Isaacs scored his first goal as a professional footballer in his 13th season to equalise for Celtic in the 78th minute before substitute Jackie Motshegwa got the winner six minutes from time.

United created few chances but took the lead on the hour mark when a terrible mix-up in defence allowed Buyani Sali to profit. Isaacs and goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb were both hesitant in clearing a long ball and Sali nicked it away with good persistence to convert.

Celtic had failed to win their last 10 cup ties in the PSL across all three knockout competitions, dating back to early 2009. The entry of Lerato Manzini as a substitute helped them turn things around. He might have been given the first goal but it was unclear whether his strike had crossed the line.