Bantu Rovers progressed to the quarter-finals of the Under-19 Dr Pepper Dallas Cup despite losing 3-0 to Solar Chelsea Under-17-18 at the USSF Academy on Wednesday.
The Under-19 tournament, sponsored by Metro PCS comprised seven groups with four teams each and the top team in each group made it to the quarter-finals after a round robin format.
Solar Chelsea won the Bracket F after winning all their three matches in the group, but according to the format of the competition in the Dallas Cup website, a team may advance to the next stage of the tournament by wild card.
“In the opening round robin, teams are bracketed into groups of four and are guaranteed a minimum of three games. Group winners and/or wild cards advance to the elimination stage of the tournament‚” he said.
“Friendly games will be organised in the latter part of the week for those teams that did not advance to the elimination stage, giving teams the opportunity to play five matches (weather permitting) while in Dallas,” reads the tournament format.
The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or play-off berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.
The Methembe Ndlovu-owned Bantu Rovers started the tournament on a good note in Bracket F, winning their first two matches 4-1, 5-0 against Central California Blues and Charming Club of Mexico, but Solar Chelsea were also on fire as they bagged six points in the first two matches with emphatic victories.
Solar Chelsea also thumped Charming Club 6-0 at Richland Club on Sunday before dismissing Central California Blues 4-1 on Tuesday to lead the log standings by a superior-goal difference in Bracket F, level on six points with Tshintsha Guluva.
