PIC: Lucas Ribeiro of Mamelodi Sundowns battles for the ball

Mamelodi Sundowns will meet holders Orlando Pirates in the final of the 2024 Nedbank Cup after the former claimed a 2-1 victory over Stellenbosch FC in their semifinal played at a sold-out Danie Craven Stadium on Sunday.  

The decider will be staged at the Mbombela Stadium on June 1 and will feature the two most successful sides in the Nedbank Cup since it was first played in 2008.
Sundowns have won four Nedbank Cup titles and Pirates three, and one of those will add to that tally.

The Brazilians had to weather a storm late on from Stellenbosch but booked their berth to end the home side’s 25-game unbeaten run. Sundowns were also the last side to beat them back in September.

The visitors took the lead early on when Khuliso Mudau thrashed the ball into the back of the net from a tight angle on 11 minutes.
It was end-to-end through the 90 minutes, but Sundowns added a second when Peter Shalulile provided the perfect lofted cross for Thembinkosi Lorch to add a second with a header on 74 minutes.

Shalulile had the chance to make the game safe from the penalty-spot, and extend his record number of Nedbank Cup goals to 15, but he fired his shot from 12 yards over the bar.

That goal would also have seen him take the outright lead for Sundowns in terms of Nedbank Cup goals. He is currently tied with Hlompho Kekana on 11 goals to go with his three for Highlands Park.
That left Stellenbosch in with. chance and they got a goal back when Genino Palace took a pass from Antonio van Wyk and slipped the ball past Ronwen Williams in the Sundowns goal.
But the home side could not find an equaliser and as they pushed forward. Sundowns struck the crossbar.       

It was a thrilling semifinal, with Sundowns winning the day as they seek to regain the title they last held in 2022.

Stellenbosch have the disappointment of exiting the competition at the semifinal stage at home for the second year in a row having been ousted in the last-4 by Sekhukhune United in 2023.

It is also revenge for Sundowns after Stellenbosch knocked them out in the quarterfinals last year, also by a 2-1 scoreline.   

SEMIFINAL RESULTS

Saturday, May 4

Chippa United 1 (Kambindu 63’) Orlando Pirates 3 (Dlamini 5’, 41’, Xoki 81’)

Sunday, May 5

Stellenbosch FC 1 (Palace 81’) Mamelodi Sundowns 2 (Mudau 11’, Lorch 74’)

TOURNAMENT STATS 

Matches Played: 30

Goals Scored: 89

Biggest Victory: Crystal Lake 0 Orlando Pirates 6 (February 24, Last 32)

Most Goals in a Game: 7 – NB La Masia 1 Mamelodi Sundowns 6 (February 20, Last 32); Milford 1 Stellenbosch FC 6 (March 15, Last 16) 

GOALSCORERS
3 goals – Shandre Campbell (SuperSport United), Andre de Jong (Stellenbosch FC), Kabelo Dlamini (Orlando Pirates), Thembinkosi Lorch (Mamelodi Sundowns), Tshegofatso Mabasa (Orlando Pirates), Patrick Maswanganyi (Orlando Pirates), Anicet Oura (Stellenbosch FC), Gaston Sirino (Mamelodi Sundowns), Devin Titus (Stellenbosch FC), Tapelo Xoki (Orlando Pirates)

2 – Delano Abrahams (University of Pretoria), Pule Ekstein (AmaZulu), Bienvenu Eva Nga (Chippa United), Thulani Gumede (Richards Bay)

1 – Emilio Abreu (Highlands Park), Mervin Boji (Stellenbosch FC), Bantu Chingi (Maritzburg United), Katlego Cwinyane (Hungry Lions), Leandro de Sousa (Pretoria Callies), Sede Dion (AmaZulu), Matias Esquivel (Mamelodi Sundowns), Taariq Fielies (AmaZulu), Justice Figuareido (Richards Bay), Kayden Francis (Chippa United), Fuad Johnson (NB La Masia), Elmo Kambindu (Chippa United), Victor Letsoalo (AmaZulu), Ghampani Lungu (SuperSport United), Lebogang Maboe (Mamelodi Sundowns), Sphiwe Mahlangu (TS Galaxy), Makhehlene Makhaula (Orlando Pirates), Thabo Makhele (Chippa United), Tladi Makhetha (D'General), Douglas Mapfumo (Polokwane City), Terrence Mashego (Mamelodi Sundowns), Tholo Matuludi (Polokwane City), Khanyisa Mayo (Cape Town City), Lwanda Mbanjwa (Moroka Swallows), Andile Mbenyane (Chippa United), Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates), Tebogo Mohlamonyane (University of Pretoria), Lehlohonolo Mojela (TS Galaxy), Lehlohonolo Morobi (NC Professionals), Sibusiso Mthethwa (Richards Bay), Nkosibonile Mtolo (FC Ravens), Khuliso Mudau (Mamelodi Sundowns), Mpho Mvelase (TS Galaxy), Samkelo Ngcungama (FC Ravens), Vuyani Ntanga (Spain FC), Samir Nurkovic (TS Galaxy), Genino Palace (Stellenbosch FC), Roscoe Pietersen (Chippa United), Iqraam Rayners (Stellenbosch FC), Lucas Ribeiro (Mamelodi Sundowns), Monnapule Saleng (Orlando Pirates), Thabang Sibanyoni (University of Pretoria), Charles Sikhosana (D'General), Andiswa Sithole (Maritzburg United), Reagan van der Ross (Maritzburg United), Tresor Yamba (Sekhukhune United), Mlungisi Zwane (TS Galaxy)

Own goals – Adam Khumalo (Crystal Lake), Solomon Letsoenyo (TS Galaxy), Morena Monaheng (Hungry Lions)