Stellenbosch FC will contest the 2024/25 MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates after they recorded a hard-fought 2-0 aggregate win over Mamelodi Sundowns in the Wafa Wafa last four clash at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Sunday afternoon.
Lihle Nduli forced Jody February into a save from a corner kick just one minute in.
In the second minute, Nigerian striker Ibraheem Jabaar missed a sitter from Andre De Jong’s cross as Sundowns cleared the danger.
Nduli skied his shot from close range in the fourth minute after Sundowns failed to clear their lines.
Grant Kekana’s well-timed tackle prevented Bradley Mojela from giving Stellies the lead in the sixth minute.
De Jong miscued his header from an inch-perfect Devon Titus cross in the 28th minute before the former was denied by February with a towering header two minutes later.
The first period ended 0-0 as both sides could not find the net, with Stellies still holding the 1-0 aggregate advantage.
Sundowns were left shell-schocked when Bradley Mojela broke the deadlock for Stellenbosch in the 48th minute, for a 2-0 aggregate score, after a low cross from De Jong for a close-range tap in.
Jayden Adams thought he had doubled his side’s lead with a perfect diving header in the 59th minute past February but was correctly flagged offside.
Lucas Ribeiro struck the upright in the 83rd minute after Sage Stephens’ beautiful fingertip save.
Stephens then pulled off Aubrey Modiba’s effort in the 89th minute before Modiba hit the post a minute later.
The Cape Winelands outfit progressed to their second domestic cup final in consecutive seasons and will now battle Pirates for the MTN8 crown in October.
