The four-month hiatus of South African football officially came to an end on Saturday, 8 August when the Premier Soccer League (PSL) officially resumed the season with the Nedbank Cup semi-finals which saw Mamelodi Sundowns joining Bloemfontein Celtics in the finals after edging out Bidvest Wits 3-2 at Orlando Stadium on Sunday.
Played behind closed doors due to government safety measures, the resumption was marked with two thrilling cup encounters.
Wits came into the clash with somewhat of a despondent squad following the shock takeover of the club by Tshakhuma Tsha Madzichandila, ultimately putting an end to a club that was just a year shy from being a century old.
The Clever Boys as they are nicknamed were also looking to end Sundowns’ dominance over them with their last win against the former African champions dating back to three years ago.
Deon Hotto was the first to ask questions in the highly anticipated clash with a venomous strike that wasn’t easily dealt with by Denis Onyango, who dropped it into the path of the oncoming Cole who failed to control his shot.
This prompted an immediate response from Sumdowns with a quick build-up that concluded with Mkhulise’s stinging strike being deflected for a corner as the former African champions got into their rhythm.
Coming back from the water break which forms part of the measures that have been put in place by the PSL to help mitigate injury following the lengthy break, Downs sent more men forward in search of the opener against a resilient Wits side.
The Brazilians were duly rewarded in the 37th minute after Motsheka Madisha was carelessly brought down by shirt tugging from Buhle Mkhwanazi for Ricardo Nascimento to comfortably slot home.
With the game looking like it is headed Sundowns’ way, a costly error by Motsheka Madisha in the 75th minute saw Terrence Dzvukumanja bringing Wits back into the game after dispossessing the defender to go on a solo run to comfortably slot home the equaliser.
Newly signed Cameroonian striker, Bienvenu Eva Nga wasted a glorious opportunity to put his side in front in the 80th minute after being put through by Phathutshedzo Nange but sent a disappointingly tame shot with the keeper at his mercy.
The burly forward was Wits’ fourth substitute of the game following the PSL’s decision to allow for five substitutes instead of the normal three as part of the injury alleviation measures taken following the lengthy break.
The Brazilians reclaimed the lead in the 81st minute with substitute, Keletso Makgalwa capitalising on a mistake by Brighton Mhlongo who left his post to clear a route one ball from Onyango but miscalculated his jump to let the youngster free on goal who slotted home into an empty net.
However, it was Dzvukumanja again who levelled matters in the 85th minute, this time with a brilliant deft tough that eliminated Madisha before firing home from close range.
With the match destined for extra time, substitute Lakay, with the last kick of the game in added time sent his side to their third Nedbank Cup final with a clinical free kick from far out that left Mhlongo with no chance to make it 3-2 and seal the victory for Sundwons.
Source: cafonline.com