By Kopano Dibakwane
It was a rare case of the master taking lessons from a student, during the Carling Cup Knockout final match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Magesi FC at Free State stadium on Saturday 23 November.
Magesi went into the game as clear underdogs, but eventually went on to lift the coveted Carling Cup after securing an impressive 2-1 victory against the mighty Sundowns.
Magesi kept Sundowns at bay and played it safe without revealing their game plan, but their hopes were dashed when Sundowns took the lead in the 35th minute, following a well-placed goal inside the box by Iqraam Rayners, hopelessly beating the extraordinary Magesi goalkeeper-Elvis Chipezenze.
Sundowns finished the first half with the comfortable 1-0 lead and they were expected to finish off the troublesome Magesi, but a big shock was awaiting the Tshwane giants in the second half.
The underdogs, Magesi, pulled an equaliser in the 48th minute, thanks to a stunning goal from Tshepo Kakora.
Sundowns caught a wake up call and decided to press on for another goal. The Tshwane giants threw everything towards Magesi defence, but they failed to convert most of the scoring chances. Magesi clinched their winning goal in the 86th minute when Delano Abrahams converted a spectacular goal inside the box from a corner kick.
Magesi Head Coach, Clinton Larsen, congratulated his team for pulling one of the most memorable upsets in Premier Soccer League history. He also heaped praises on goalkeeper, Chipezeze, who has won the man-of-the-match accolade four times in a row during the tournament, and securing R400,000 prize money in the process.
The Limpopo outfit has seriously raffled some feathers since their debut entry into the PSL this season. In just three months, they walloped Orlando Pirates with a 3-2 victory and knocked the mighty Bucs out of the Carling Cup quarter finals, drew 2-2 with Kaizer Chiefs in a league match, and this cup final victory against Sundowns has proven, beyond reasonable doubt, that Magesi means business.
Sundowns Head Coach, Mancoba Mngqithi, is under pressure to deliver results as Masandawana have lost 4 successive final matches, including the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup.
