Mamelodi Sundowns have set up a Carling Knockout final against Magesi FC following their 2-0 victory over Marumo Gallants.
Sundowns are considered favourites by many to win a fifth title and a first since 2019. They backed it up with second half goals from Lucas Ribeiro Costa and Neo Maema on Sunday November 10.
The Brazilians will take on Magesi FC whose fairytale run continued on Saturday as they made it to the final in the maiden campaign, giving their fans hopes for a trophy at the first time of asking.
Ahead of the final set to take place at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on November 23, Afrik-Foot looks at some of the lessons learnt from the competition so far.
Sundowns the team to beat
Few will bet against Mamelodi Sundowns lifting the title given the run they have been on.
The Brazilians have easily dispatched their opponents, scoring 11 goals without conceding in three matches, with Golden Arrows beaten 5-0, Kaizer Chiefs dispatched 4-0 before the win over Gallants.
That is a formidable record that should worry Magesi ahead of the final.
Brave Magesi get their reward
Magesi FC have been the surprise package of the competition with their run to the final against the odds.
The newly-promoted team made a statement of intent when they stunned Orlando Pirates with three first-half goals in the Round of 16, before winning the tie 3-2, and have gone on to eliminate TS Galaxy and Richards Bay for a place in the final.
It made them the second newly-promoted club to reach the cup final after Silver Stars in 2003 and will be hoping to complete the remarkable run with another big upset against Sundowns.
Lucas Ribeiro the real deal
Sundowns can look forward to a positive season due to the fact that they have one of the best players in the league in Lucas Ribeiro Costa.
The Brazilian attacker may just have scored a penalty on Sunday but the confidence to execute a Panenka is not for everyone.
The playmaker has been putting in a great shift for Manqoba Mngqithi’s team and he will be key to how far Sundowns go in all competitions this season while he should make the difference in the final in Bloemfontein.
Can anyone breach Elvis Chipezeze?
Magsei have made it to the final largely due to the heroics of their goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze.
The custodian has been the standout performer in the competition so far with his incredible saves lifting his team to the final.
What’s more, he has been named Man of the Match against Pirates, TS Galaxy and Richards Bay, picking up R300,000 in the process, for his impressive performances.
Stellenbosch paying for key departures?
Stellenbosch FC have not been at their best in recent matches and their elimination by Gallants might not have surprised many.
Stellies lost a host of key players in the off-season and have been struggling for consistency while scoring goals is proving tough.
They have reached the final of MTN8, CAF Confederation Cup group stage but their depth was stretched when they could not sustain their run in the Carling Knockout to reach the final and defend their title.
Question marks on Pirates’ depth
Another team whose depth was tested were Pirates who saw a largely changed team go down 3-0 inside 45 minutes against Magesi FC in the Round of 16 before losing the match 3-2.
Jose Riveiro’s team have started the season well, topping the PSL table with 100 per cent record, winning MTN8 and reaching the CAF Champions League group stages.
That has been done with his big hitters in the team but when he chose to freshen up things, it backfired against Magesi, leaving questions on whether they will sustain their momentum when fatigue kicks in.
Kaizer Chiefs still miles off
While Pirates are mulling over their depth, Kaizer Chiefs can only hope for better things in future after their bright start to life under Nasreddine Nabi was slowed in recent matches.
Their 4-0 loss to Sundowns in the quarter-final exposed all their problems, showing the gulf in class between them and the teams they would wish to be competing with for titles.
Sundowns close in on record
Sundowns have reached their eighth Carling Knockout final, in what sets them apart from the rest, as only Kaizer Chiefs (10) have reached more finals in the PSL era.
With only four titles, it does not look good for Sundowns who must be itching to win it in 2024 and back up their good runs.
Carling Cup prestige intact
The Carling Knockout might be one of the smallest competitions in South Africa but participating teams have given it respect.
Most teams have gone with strong lineups, making it very competitive, and the R100,000 Man of Match rewards have also added to the motivation. Expect a full-strength Sundowns and Magesi in the final on November 23.
Confidence booster for PSL strugglers
The competition has also given solace to teams having it rough in the league as three of the four semi-finalists are 11th or below on the PSL table.
Magesi (11th in the PSL), Richards Bay, 12th and 14th-placed Gallants have used the competition to build their confidence ahead of league matches and they will hope to use their good runs to spark a revival when the PSL resumes following the international break.
