By Batsirai Sango.
The Carling Black Label knockout cup has reached the final climax and peak with the final set to be taking place on the 23rd of November and what a tournament it has been full of thrills, exhilaration and goals galore.
Tshwane giants Mamelodi Sundowns have had the entire yellow nation waiting in anticipation as the Brazilians have completely been on a riot in this season’s tournament of the Carling Black Label knockout cup, having put to the sword Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs in emphatic fashion in the quarter finals.
The Brazilians have been the highest scoring side in this season’s tournament with 11 goals enroute to the final without conceding and the only team to have won by a high scoring margin of 5 goals when they thrashed Golden Arrows 5nil in the opening stage of the knockout.
And what enterprising football they have been putting on show full of glitz and glamour and worth the eyes and moneys fans would have paid to watch, especially the final before the final that was when they took on Kazier Chiefs at the giant FNB stadium. For anyone who did not watch the encounter, having to see whatever headline of Amakhosi’s hiding, walloping by the Brazilians the next day would have led to a doubting Thomas like moment, as the score is the highest score margin Chiefs have been beaten, by any side in the Premier Soccer League era.
Marumo Gallants stood between them and a place in the final and have put aside defending champions Stellenbosch in the quarter finals it was not going to be a walk in the park for Mamelodi Sundowns, as their opposite number also wanted to prove a point and write their own piece of history.
And prove a point they did as they frustrated Mamelodi Sundowns with the Brazilians getting little of the ball which deprived them to make the kind moves and defense splitting passes that had them go into the break the previous encounter with Kaizer Chiefs 3nil up. The match went into the break with both teams’ deadlock at nil all.
Knowing Mamelodi Sundowns it was only a case of when the opposite team would succumb to attempts by the Brazilians to get a goal, and moments after the restart Peter Shalulile ran on to the ball to keep it in play on the right flank, which he did and from the attempt to cross the match official spotted a handball offense and pointed to the spot.
Quarter finals hero and the MVP of that encounter Lucas Ribeiro stepped up, with Zimbabwean goalie Washington Arubi trying to play mind games with the Brazilian in the hope he would succumb. However, the veteran goalie had another thing coming as Ribeiro slotted in the resultant kick with a cheeky Panenka sending Arubi the wrong way, and Kabo Yello were in front in the 52nd minute.
The floodgates did not open with that goal as the match kept swinging from one to the other with no clear-cut chances. Neo Maema would secure the tie for the Brazilians in the 4th minute of injury time with a left footed strike that hit the woodwork before going into the back of the net. The match would finish 2nil with Mamelodi Sundowns securing a spot in the final.
And to think Lucas Ribeiro and Neo Maema sat next to each other a couple of days back in a press conference held in the aftermath of Chief’s demolition at the FNB stadium, and come the semis encounter they both score, fate should have been speaking to that verily.
The Tshwane giants have Magesi standing between them and glory, the Magesi secured a ticket to the final beating Richards Bay by a goal to nil, and both having beat Soweto teams enroute to the finals, Mamelodi Sundowns beating Kaizer Chiefs and Magesi beating Orlando Pirates, no match up would have been more befitting and convenient.
KABO YELLOW MASANDAWANA!!!!!!!.
