Magesi FC came from a goal down to stun Mamelodi Sundowns and lift the Carling Knockout Cup, in their first ever season in topflight football in Bloemfontein on Saturday evening.
Tshepo Kakora cancelled Iqraam Rayners’ first half opener early in the second half, while Delano Abrahams scored the winner with three minutes left on the clock, with both goal assisted by Edmore Chirambadare.
The first half belonged to Sundowns who tested a stubborn Elvis Chipezeze forcing him to pull off four super saves. The first big chance for Sundowns came in the eighth minute when Peter Shalulile tried to find Lucas Ribeiro in the box. The ball clumsily cleared by Magesi defender rolled to Teboho Mokoena who took a powerful shot from outside the box and forced a save out of Chipezeze.
There was another chance four minutes later for Manqoba Mngqithi’s charges this time Aubrey Modiba who found Rayners but was met with a Chipezeze save. Two minutes from that Chipezeze was called again to deny Shalulile.
It was Chipezeze against Mokoena again in the 21st and 33rd minutes with the Zimbabwean winning the contests. Chipezeze was finally beaten three minutes later after Ribeiro who found Rayners and the latter calmly slotted home to break the deadlock and give his side the lead at the break.
There were no changes from both sides at the start of the second half. It took two minutes for Dikwena tṧa meetse to find an equaliser. Chirambadare set-up Kakora from a corner who headed home to level matters.
There was an opportunity for Rayners to regain Sundowns’ lead in the 59th minute but his effort landed in Chipezeze’s hands. Eight minutes after the hour mark Mokoena took another shot at the Magesi goal from range and again Chipezeze denied him.
Magesi won a corner with three minutes left on the clock. Chirambadare took it and sent it into the box where it found Abrahams who made no mistake and scored to made history for the Limpopo side.
