A final too far as Stars pip Team of Choice
Le Roux raises hand as Saracens prevail
FREE State Stars are the 2018 Nedbank Cup champions after defeating Maritzburg United 1-0 in the competition’s finale at the Cape Town Stadium last night.
The win secures the much-improved Free State club a place in next season’s CAF Confederations Cup and a hefty R7-million in prize money. The victory was founded on Stars’ supreme organisation and their attention to detail in the carrying out of a dour yet highly effective game plan.
Maritzburg played their part in an absorbing final – but, in the end, their inability to find any cutting edge in attack proved to be their downfall. After going into the break at 1-0 down, the KZN side dominated second half possession, but Stars battled bravely and put in the effort to ensure they lifted the trophy at the end of the 90 minutes.
Cagey
With all the talk of crowd attendance in the build-up to the game, because the final involved two unfashionable teams, and it being the first time a final was being played at the Green Point venue, around 20 000 turned up for the occasion – and, more importantly, they played their part in creating a fantastic atmosphere.
Right from the opening whistle, it was evident that this wasn’t going to be an open, flowing football match. A cagey, tentative beginning eventually led to a tight, tense encounter. To be fair to both teams, the fact that there wasn’t all that much with regard to scoring attempts early on was due to their superb structure. Both Maritzburg and Stars were played with great shape, and both were difficult to break down. Space was at a premium as players closed each other down quickly and effectively, making for a match that was always ripe for the counter-attack.
In the opening 45 minutes, Stars’ burly striker Siphelele Mthembu’s power game was proving tough for Maritzburg’s defenders to handle, but the KZN side was having the better of things on the break. Lebogang Maboe, Siphesihle Ndlovu and Deolin Mekoa provided a few threatening moments, but nothing that was all that troubling for the Stars defence.
Maritzburg looked have grabbed control towards the end of the first half, with Belgian forward Andrea Fileccia going close on two occasions and captain Bevan Fransman nearly scoring with a flick-on header, only to be foiled by a great save from Stars goalkeeper Thela Ngobeni.
Counter-attack
But, as it always is in football, when a team is at its strongest, that is also the time when it is at its most vulnerable. As Maritzburg pushed forward with more confidence, they left themselves short at the back – and Stars made them pay. A minute before the break, after a swift counter-attack, Sthembiso Dlamini dashed into space and finished with aplomb to give the Free State side a 1-0 lead.
The KZN club had no choice but to change things and go for broke in the second half. Central defender Rushine de Reuck was substituted, and Maritzburg played with three at the back. The change in formation allowed them more impetus in attack. But, at the same time, because Stars had the advantage, they didn’t have to risk; they sat in, played a lot deeper, kept it compact and made sure they had numbers behind the ball. Because of this, no matter how hard Maritzburg tried, for all their huffing and puffing, they just couldn’t get through the resolute defence of the Free Staters.
But, while Stars take the trophy, both teams deserve credit, not just for participating in such a high profile final but also for their performances in the league this season. Maritzburg and Stars have been two of the more exciting sides this season – and, for that, they can both take a bow. LONDON: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus would have taken notice of some fine performances by South African exports as Owen Farrell kicked 27 points as Saracens swatted aside Wasps 57-33 in an enthralling English Premiership playoff semi-final yesterday to book their place at Twickenham on Saturday.
The flyhalf, who is set to tour South Africa with England next month, set his team on their way early in the first half, bursting through from halfway before laying off for Alex Lozowski to go over under the posts with less then three minutes gone.
Mario Itoje then powered to within inches of the line before prop Vincent Koch dived over to double Saracens’ lead as they swarmed all over their opponents.
Farrell added two first-half penalties to put Saracens 20-0 up before Wasps replied with try by Willie le Roux try, but a third penalty by Farrell sent his team into the halftime break with a comfortable lead.
Saracens began the second half like they did the first, with an early try, as Chris Wyles crossed in the corner to leave Wasps needing a miracle.
Prop Jake Cooper-woolley kept Wasps alive by bullying his way over after a line-out and Jimmy Gopperth converted to cut the deficit to 18 points.
Danny Cipriani and Christian Wade then combined for Thomas Young to score under the posts as Wasps threatened an unlikely comeback, but Farrell struck another timely penalty with nearly an hour gone to give Saracens some breathing room.
The 26-year-old was at it again three minutes later, and though Le Roux kept Wasps in touch with another try just after the hour mark, Juan Figallo and Itoje crossed for Saracens to put the result beyond doubt.
There was still time for records to fall, with Christian Wade scoring for Wasps and Ben Spencer adding another for Saracens late on to bring the curtain down on the highest-ever scoring Premiership semi-final.
Exeter Chiefs played Newcastle Falcons in the other semi last night. – Reuters