Sundowns edge Chiefs to reach MTN8 final

A brace by man of the match Peter Shalulile sent Mamelodi Sundowns to the final of the MTN8 after a 2-1 victory over Kaizer Chiefs in front of a sold-out crowd at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday.

The Brazilians took the two-legged semi-final 3-2 on aggregate. They will play the winner between Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch FC, who play each other on Sunday.

For a team that written off even before a ball was kicked, Chiefs were not overawed by the occasion.

They gave Sundowns a run for their money but their gutsy performance was not enough to progress to the final.

Molefi Ntseki and his charges will feel aggrieved after Mduduzi Mdantsane was fouled inside the box by Thapelo Maseko in injury time, but referee Luxolo Badi waved play on.

It was déjà vu for Amakhosi as another howler by goalkeeper Brandon Peterson gave Sundowns an early lead with just 10 seconds on the clock.

Shalulile who was desperately missed in the first leg through injury pressed high and won the ball from the erratic ‘keeper to slot into an empty net.

Peterson was the culprit when the two sides met earlier this season in a DStv Premiership match. His mistake in injury-time gave Masandawana a 2-1 win at the same venue.

The visitors recovered from the wobbly start as they also pressed high looking to force Sundowns into mistakes and Ashley du Preez should have equalised for Amakhosi after 15 minutes.

Themba Zwane lost the ball in the middle of the park and Du Preez was sent through one-on-one with Ronwen Williams but he lacked composure by blasting his effort over the bar.

The speedy striker atoned for his earlier miss when he sent Williams the wrong way from the penalty spot to make it 1-1 after Sipho Mbule handled the ball inside the box from a Chiefs corner.

Shalulile strikes again

Shalulile restored his side’s lead on the stroke of half time with a composed header from a Lucas Ribeiro lofted cross into the box.

The game was on a knife-edge in the second half with Chiefs knowing that another goal would be enough to send through to the final on away goals rule.

Williams produced a wonderful save to deny Du Preez’s low shot on the hour mark after a cutback from substitute Christian Saile.The Congolese’s acrobatic effort went inches wide moments later.

As they did against Orlando Pirates in midweek, the league champions held on for victory. The final will be played on October 7, with the venue not yet confirmed.