Sundowns to face Celtic in Nedbank Cup final

Eva Nga of Bidvest Wits challenged by Motjeka Madisa of Mamelodi Sundowns during the 2020 Nedbank Cup Semifinals match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits at the Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg on the 08 August 2020 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

by Staff Reporter

Saturday Aug 08, 2020. 21:50

Lyle Lakay scored a late goal as Mamelodi Sundowns booked their place in the Nedbank Cup final with a 3-2 win over Bidvest Wits at Orlando Stadium on Saturday evening.

The Brazilians will face Bloemfontein Celtic in the tournament’s showpiece following their 3-0 win over Baroka FC at the same venue earlier today.

Sundowns carried a narrow advantage into the half-time break following a 37th minute penalty from Ricardo Nascimento. The defender was on target from the spot after Buhle Mkhwanzi was adjudged to have tugged Motjeka Madisha’s jersey inside the penalty area.

The Clever Boys were the better team after the break and deservedly levelled matters in the 76th minute as Terrence Dzvukamanja continued his scoring streak in the tournament. The Zimbabwean stripped Madisha of the ball before beating Denis Onyango for Wits’ first goal post lockdown.

Sundowns hit back through Keletso Makgalwa five minutes later. Brighton Mhlongo misjudged a long ball forward from Onyango and the Sundowns forward made no mistake as he passed the ball into an empty net.

Bidvest Wits were not going to go down without a fight and Dzvukamanja completed his brace with four minutes of regulation time remaining. The forward had the better of Madisha once more before sliding the ball past Onyango.

But it would be Sundowns to book their place in the final as Lyle Lakay struck home the winner with virtually the final kick of the game. His curling free-kick proved to be the difference on the night as the Clever Boys suffered heartbreak in the cup.

Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 3 (Nascimento pen. 37′ Makgalwa 81′ Lakay 90+5′)

Bidvest Wits (0) 2 (Dzvukamanja 76′ 86′)

Mamelodi Sundowns: Onyango; Lebusa, Nascimento, Madisha, Lukhubeni, Coetzee, Kekana, Zwane (Lakay 73′), Mkhulise (Jali 73′), Maboe, Vilakazi (Makgalwa 60′).

Bidvest Wits: Mhlongo, Hlanti, Mkhwanazi, Gordinho (Macheke 46′), Hlatshwayo, Alexander, Nange, Domingo (Eva Nga 62′), Sekgota (Human 46′), Hotto, Dzvukamanja (Khunyedi 90+5′).