Stellenbosch FC will meet Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final as the Winelands outfit registered a 1-0 win over Mamelodi Sundowns in the semifinal second-leg at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Sunday afternoon.
Having won the first leg 1-0 at Sundowns’ home base on Wednesday evening, Stellies repeated the feat – and not even on their own turf – to claim a 2-0 aggregate victory over Masandawana.It means Steve Barker’s side will have another opportunity to taste cup success after lifting the inaugural Carling Knockout cup at the end of last year.
Sundowns completely dominated possession early in the match, controlling up to 75 percent of the ball during the first 15 minutes. Despite this, Stellenbosch remained dangerous on the counter-attack and created a few goal-scoring opportunities during this period.
As the first half progressed, Masandawana continued to apply pressure in the Stellenbosch penalty area, but the men from the Western Cape proved difficult to break down defensively. In a game that unfolded at a slower pace, Stellenbosch seemed content to concede possession to their opponents while staying dangerous on the break.
At the half-hour mark, Andre de Jong nearly broke the deadlock for Stellies, forcing a superb reflex save from Jody February with a free kick from the edge of the penalty area.Other than de Jong’s effort, neither team generated any significant scoring chances as the first half came to a close. However, Stellenbosch maintained their 1-0 aggregate lead heading into halftime at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Stellenbosch started the second half strongly and quickly took the lead. February made another crucial save to deny Devon Titus in a one-on-one situation, but de Jong followed up with a precise pass across the six-yard box, allowing Lehlohonolo Mojela to tap the ball in from close range.
The Western Cape team found the back of the net again at the hour mark when Jayden Adams finished off a fast transition with a diving header. However, his celebration was cut short as he was flagged offside.With a one-goal advantage, Stellenbosch grew more comfortable in possession, frequently putting the Brazilians under pressure. Meanwhile, Sundowns remained patient in their attacking buildup around the Stellenbosch box.
As the match drew to a close, Sundowns applied relentless pressure, hitting the post twice, but Stellenbosch held firm to secure their spot in the MTN8 final.
Story credit: SABC Sport
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