Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies are through to the final after beating Malabo Kings 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out in the second semi-final of the Total Energies CAF Women’s Champions League at Al Salam stadium on Monday.
The game ended goalless in regulation time, and after 120 minutes.
Sundowns made two changes for the encounter against the Equatorial Guinea champions, Melinda Kgadiete started ahead of Andisiwe Mgcoyi while Boitumelo Rabale made way for Lelona Daweti, who had chances to break the deadlock especially in the second half.
Daweti had one attempt go wide while the other one, from a cross from Chuene Morifi, hit the woodwork.
Amanda Mthandi also had an opportunity from range, but it was also wide in the opening stanza, so did Kgadiete much earlier in the game where she headed over the cross bar.
The South African champions have had one of the best defensive records in the tournament so far, having not conceded in the group stage however scored just two goals.
Kings’ best striker Stepahanie Gbegou was kept quiet and she also struggled with injury during the game and had to come out with 13 minutes left on the clock.
Going into extra time, Sundowns continued to look more likely to score, though Malabo had chances on the counter, but neither side could find a goal in the first fifteen minutes.
The teams were tired in the second 15, but Sundowns continued to push, Morifi having a good chance with five minutes to go, but she shot straight at the goalkeeper, while Thalea Smit’s long range effort in the 118th minute struck the crossbar.
Bella Rose had a change for Kings in the final minute but Mbane made an excellent last ditch tackle to deny her, and the match went to penalties.
Sundowns will face Ghana’s Hasaac Ladies who defeated ASFAR 2-1 in the first semi-final.
