Sekhukhune reach Nedbank Cup final on penalties
Sekhukhune United will face Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on May 27 after their 4-3 penalty victory over Stellenbosch at the Danie Craven Stadium last night.
Ba Bina Noko needed penalties to win after the match finished goalless in regulation time.
Pirates advanced to the final earlier after they edged Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.
The two finalists will first meet in the DStv Premiership league at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
This is the first time that Sekhukhune are in the Nedbank Cup final since they were promoted to the DStv Premiership last season. Stellenbosch will be disappointed as they wanted to win the title in honour of their late player Andries Oshwin, but Sekhukhune were calmer in the penalty shootout.
By virtue of progressing to the final, Sekhukhune have already qualified for the Caf Confederation Cup as Pirates are likely to finish second or third in the league and will qualify for either the Champions League or Confed Cup.
With a place in the final up for grabs, both teams played in high intensity as they went at each other with pace in the opening exchanges.
The visitors came close to breaking the deadlock when Kamohelo Mokotjo forced goalkeeper Lee Langerveld into a diving save with a low dipping shot.
The Cape Winelands side also had their chance to find the opener when Junior Mendieta guided a header from a cross by Fawaaz Basadien that crashed against the upright.
That was the closest either team came to scoring in the opening half as, despite the match flowing at a good pace, there were no more clear cut chances and the game went into the interval in the balance.
Stellies came back with more energy after the break and came close to finding the opener but Badra Sangare did well to deny Devin Titus.
The home side were dominant in the second half and created numerous chances but decision-making in the final third denied them.
As the game progressed, the home side enjoyed more box entries thanks to their aggressive approach but were denied in front of goal.
The teams could not be separated in regulation time and needed penalties to decide the semifinal and Sekhukhune progressed after substitute keeper Ntokozo Mtsweni made two saves.