University of Pretoria and Mamelodi Sundowns will contest the first ever

University of Pretoria and Mamelodi Sundowns will contest the first ever MultiChoice Diski Challenge final after winning their semifinals clashes on Sunday.

Tuks edged SuperSport United 3-2 on penalties after the match finished 1-1 while Sundowns defeated Mpumalanga Black Aces 2-1 at the Isaac Wolfson Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

The two teams will meet in a Pretoria derby final at the Nike Football Training Centre in Pimville, Soweto on February 28.

Dikgang Ngcobo got the equaliser for Tuks in the 36th minute as he headed Sifiso Nzimande’s corner into the back of the net. SuperSport had taken the lead through Kwanele Zulu, who rounded off the keeper to score, after 23 minutes.

Sundowns’ goals came from experienced midfielder Lebohang Mokoena, who netted a brace. He scored his first with a cool finish in the 55th minute after being set up by Percy Tau. His second was a well taken curler to the top corner.

Tuks suffered an early set back against SuperSport as their influential midfielder Mpho Maruping had to be taken off after a bad tackle by Jino Moeketsi.

Despite the presence of Thabo Mnyamane, who was recently named the Absa Premiership player of the month, Tuks couldn't add another goal with SuperSport’s goalkeeper Dumisani Msibi having a great game.

The match finished 1-1 after extra time and the winner had to be decided through the penalty shootouts - the first of the competition.

While Mnyamane and Grant Kekane’s kicks were saved by Msibi, Tuks scored through Botshelo Mfulwane, Dikgang Ngcobo and Siphelele Mthembu.

SuperSport only converted two spot kicks via veteran Thabo September and Zakhele Mgobhozi. Tshepiso Sethekge had his penalty saved by Lebogang Ngubane while Snethemba Ngidi and Brandon Dean missed theirs.

Man-of the-match defender Alan Robertson was pleased that the team managed to weather the storm and progress to the final.

“It wasn’t easy, I don’t think the conditions here made it very easy. But we are happy we got to the final. Penalties, we were the luck of the draw, thank God we won in the end,” he said after the match.

FRUSTATING HALF

Sundowns endured a frustrating first half of missed chances against Aces, who were also threatening when in attack.

They had to wait until ten minutes after into the second half to break the deadlock through Mokoena. But their lead was short lived as Judas Moseamedi equalised five minutes later, turning the defender inside out before firing past Thela Ngobeni.

Mokoena then completed his brace in the 73rd minute when he drove the ball into the top corner after a poor clearance by the Aces’ defence.

“I’m still trying to check if my heart is still pumping because it was a stressful game. But thanks to the boys, they worked hard, I think they deserve to be in the finals,” Sundowns’ coach Alex Bapela said after the match.

The coach also denied that they’ve been favourites in the competition despite advancing to the final.

“I don’t know if we’ve been the favourites from day one because if you playing in an Under-23 tournament with the Under-19 s, I don’t know how you become favourites. But anyway we are going to the finals and in the finals anything is possible, anything can happen,” he concluded.

Mokoena also praised the Brazilians' youngsters after receiving his man-of-the-match award.

“I think we did very well, we worked hard. I’ve been with the boys for some time now, I think it paid off today,” he said.

The midfielder also talked about his combination with Tau, who set up his first goal.

“I think it’s also coming from the first team, we train together. Even extra training, when we have one session, we do train a lot at the indoor arena.

"It helped him a lot as well and it helps me, because if you are not getting game time in the first team, this is an opportunity to come and display your skills. I think it worked out today as a combination, but I think overall it was a good team performance,” he concluded.