Mamelodi Sundowns have advanced to the Carling Knockout Cup final following a 2-0 victory against a gutsy Marumo Gallants side on Sunday at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium in Bloemfontein.
The visitors pulled the first trigger as they created an early chance through Iqraam Rayners but were unsuccessful with an opener. Masandawana held on to the ball possession but were struggling to go through past the defence of Marumo Gallants.
When the Bloemfontein-based side had the ball, they would take it to the box, causing problems for Downs. Ronwen Willams was made to work early in the game. The biggest threat of the first stanza came from a corner kick struck by the hosts.
The corner ball was received by a glancing header, but Williams was able to make a point-blank save as he smacked it away to keep the score at 0-0. The Brazilians looked a bit frustrated as Gallants continued to test their defence.
They were dominating possession, but Gallants seemed to have more entries in their box. They also had chances, but Gallants’ off-side trap was difficult to go past, denying them any chance to find the back of the net. Despite the titanic tussle, the two sides went to the break deadlocked at 0-0.
The hosts seemed to have picked up from where they left off in the first minutes of the second stanza, but Downs quickly hit back with Peter Shalulile on the right flank, who had upped his energy levels.
Their relentlessness eventually paid off in the 51st minute when the referee pointed to the spot for a handball in the box. Lucas Ribeiro converted the penalty kick, which saw the Gallants goalkeeper diving in the opposite direction, making it 1-0.The home side was not giving up as they continued to fight on the ball.
A chance from them through a curler went over the bar to deny them an equaliser. Another dangerous chance from them came in the 65th minute. Their striker found himself running past the vulnerable Downs defence to drive the ball into the box.
Being one-one-on-one with Williams, he tried to shoot on the right, but the Downs goalie smacked it away.In the closing stages, Williams was tested once more, but with good timing, he was able to snatch the ball from a kick that came from the right.
Substitute Kutlwano Letlhaku looked to kill the game to make it two for his side, but his attempt was not fruitful. In the final minute of the match, Letlhaku was able to assist Free-State-born Neo Maema after taking advantage of a nappy Gallants defence to wrap up the game.
A victory in Bloemfontein means the Brazilians will be advancing to the final. They will face Magesi FC at the Toyota Stadium as the away side on the 23rd of November, 2024.
