A late second-half goal from Anthony Laffor secured a 1-0 win for Mamelodi Sundowns over Chippa United in a MTN8 second-leg semifinal clash at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville yesterday evening.
The first-leg clash in Port-Elizabeth ended in a goalless stalemate.
The Brazilians will next face Bidvest Wits in the 2016 MTN8 final at the Mbombela Stadium. The game in Nelspruit takes place on 1 October.
Sundowns went on the offensive from the onset and almost found the opener in the second minute. Keagan Dolly burst into the area before cutting in-field on his weaker right footer. His resulting shot, though, was well kept out by Daniel Akpeyi.
The Brazilians launched wave after wave of attack, and after Yannick Zakri blazed his marker the Ivorian laid it on a silver platter for the on-rushing Khama Billiat, who could only manage to scuff his shot wide of goal on 16 minutes.
While the hosts dominated the early exchanges, with Wayne Arendse also calling Akpeyi into action, the Chilli Boys started to muscle their way back into the clash and created a few chances of their own.
Denis Onyango was forced into a good save to deny Marc van Heerden’s floating free-kick, who had the beating of everyone but the Ugandan No1.
Dan Malesela’s men were playing eye-catching football and after the ball fell to Andile Mbenyane in the 39th minute the attacker looked sure to score. A timely deflection, though, sent the ball off course as the stanza ended 0-0.
In stark contrast to the first-half, the second got off to a cagey start, with Pitso Mosimane reacting quickly, introducing Laffor just short of the hour with the hope that he would inspire the hosts to victory.
The super sub found the back of the net on 75 minutes. A blistering counter-attack ended with Sibusiso Vilakazi setting up the Liberian international, who hammered a low shot past Akpeyi.
Chippa threw everything forward in attack as they went in search of what would have been the winner, but Sundowns held on to book their place in next month’s showpiece.
lSuperSport United claimed their first win of the season when they defeated hosts Maritzburg United 1-0 in an Absa Premiership match at Harry Gwala Stadium last night.
As for Maritzburg United, it was a first loss of the season.
lHighlands Park suffered a first defeat in their 2016-17 Absa Premiership campaign after losing 1-0 to Kaizer Chiefs at Makhulong Stadium last night.
In the wake of the defeat, the Lions of the North now sit at number 10 with three points from their win over Baroka FC last week.
The win takes Steve Komphela’s men to the sixth spot on the log table with four points from three matches.
Downs power into final with late goal
The first-leg clash in Port-Elizabeth ended in a goalless stalemate.
The Brazilians will next face Bidvest Wits in the 2016 MTN8 final at the Mbombela Stadium. The game in Nelspruit takes place on 1 October.
Sundowns went on the offensive from the onset and almost found the opener in the second minute. Keagan Dolly burst into the area before cutting in-field on his weaker right footer. His resulting shot, though, was well kept out by Daniel Akpeyi.
The Brazilians launched wave after wave of attack, and after Yannick Zakri blazed his marker the Ivorian laid it on a silver platter for the on-rushing Khama Billiat, who could only manage to scuff his shot wide of goal on 16 minutes.
While the hosts dominated the early exchanges, with Wayne Arendse also calling Akpeyi into action, the Chilli Boys started to muscle their way back into the clash and created a few chances of their own.
Denis Onyango was forced into a good save to deny Marc van Heerden’s floating free-kick, who had the beating of everyone but the Ugandan No1.
Dan Malesela’s men were playing eye-catching football and after the ball fell to Andile Mbenyane in the 39th minute the attacker looked sure to score. A timely deflection, though, sent the ball off course as the stanza ended 0-0.
In stark contrast to the first-half, the second got off to a cagey start, with Pitso Mosimane reacting quickly, introducing Laffor just short of the hour with the hope that he would inspire the hosts to victory.
The super sub found the back of the net on 75 minutes. A blistering counter-attack ended with Sibusiso Vilakazi setting up the Liberian international, who hammered a low shot past Akpeyi.
Chippa threw everything forward in attack as they went in search of what would have been the winner, but Sundowns held on to book their place in next month’s showpiece.
lSuperSport United claimed their first win of the season when they defeated hosts Maritzburg United 1-0 in an Absa Premiership match at Harry Gwala Stadium last night.
As for Maritzburg United, it was a first loss of the season.
lHighlands Park suffered a first defeat in their 2016-17 Absa Premiership campaign after losing 1-0 to Kaizer Chiefs at Makhulong Stadium last night.
In the wake of the defeat, the Lions of the North now sit at number 10 with three points from their win over Baroka FC last week.
The win takes Steve Komphela’s men to the sixth spot on the log table with four points from three matches.
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