Mamelodi Sundowns are the kings of the Telkom Knockout!
The Brazilians withstood a second-half onslaught from Kaizer Chiefs to win the final 3-1 at a packed Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Reconciliation Day on Wednesday night.
Sundowns clinched their third Knockout title with goals from Leonardo Castro, Thabo Nthethe and Hlompho Kekana, while goalkeeper Denis Onyango was the Man of the Match after saving two penalties in the second half.
AmaKhosi pulled one back through substitute Camaldine Abraw two minutes into stoppage time, but that didn’t spoil Masandawana’s party as they took him the winners’ cheque of R4.25 million.
Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane also became the first South African coach to win all four local trophies since the formation of the PSL (league, national cup, Knockout Cup and Top 8).
The Brazilians were buzzing from the opening stages already, with the likes of midfielders Keagan Dolly, Bongani Zungu, Themba Zwane and later veteran Teko Modise sharp on the ball and playing with wonderful skill and movement.
Sundowns opened their account after just five minutes through a fantastic passage of play that was instigated by left back Tebogo Langerman, who produced a superbly weighted long ball on to Khama Billiat’s foot inside the Chiefs penalty area.
The Zimbabwean international showed tremendous skill with an immediate cross on the volley and found Columbian striker Castro, who half-shouldered the ball past Chiefs minder Brilliant Khuzwayo after just five minutes.
AmaKhosi had several chances to equalise, with a number of corners from Siphiwe Tshabalala being easily dealt with by the Sundowns defence, while right back Siboniso Gaxa blasted over the bar from close range.
Chiefs attackers Edward Manqele, Lucky Baloyi and Pule Ekstein tried hard to create holes in the Sundowns armour, but the final pass often went astray, while centre backs Wayne Arendse and Asavela Mbekile were dominant in the air and on the ground.
The Pretoria-based side pounced soon after halftime when Nthethe went high to connect with Modise’s corner to make it 2-0 to Mosimane’s team.
AmaKhosi coach Steve Komphela introduced Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Bernard Parker and Camaldine Abraw, and it had the desired effect as Parker was fouled by Nthethe inside the box.
But Onyango became the hero as he denied Chiefs by saving two penalties within 13 minutes of each other.
First Tshabalala’s team spot-kick – following the foul on Parker – in the 60th minute was fairly easily stopped by the Ugandan goalie, which was followed up later by a top-class block of Abraw’s penalty, which had been a harsh handball call by the referee on Nthethe as he was sliding on the ground.
Kekana finished things off in style with a pile-driver from outside the box after a delightful back-heel from Zwane.
@IndyCapeSport
Scorers
Mamelodi Sundowns 3 (Leonardo Castro 5’, Thabo Nthethe 51’, Hlompho Kekana 80’)
Kaizer Chiefs 1 (Camaldine Abraw 90+2’)