Moroka Swallows ended First Division giant killers Pretoria University's fairly tale run in the Nedbank Cup and also endedtheir dream of becoming the first team from the lower league to win a major Cup final when they edged out gallant Tukkies 1-0 in a thrilling final that brought down the curtain of the Premier Soccer League season at the Rand Stadium on Saturday.

The Birds walked home with a R6 million winner's cheque, but the First Division side who beat three PSL sides, Kaizer Chiefs, Bloemfontein Celtic and Ajax Cape Town en route to the final took, the runners up prize of R2.5 million which will go a long way to helping Tuks challenge for promotion to the PSL next season.

The win means the Birds have qualified for the African Confederations Cup next year. Coach Julio Leal promised before the match Swallows would honour their commitment to the continental competition which has not been taken seriously by PSL clubs since Kaizer Chiefs won the old African Cup Winners Cup, also known as the Mandel Cup, at Ellis Park in 2001.

The match doubled up as the re-opening of the Rand Stadium after Johannesburg's historic soccer stadium underwent a R76 million overhaul.

The new-look stadium is magnificent and more than ready to host some of the world's top sides during next year's World Cup finals where it will be used as a training venue.

The revamp has given the stadium a new modern look but the old atmosphere is still there. The near capacity crowd of over 22 000 were treated to a memorable, no holds barred final.

There was a moment of silence before the match for former Birds coach Walter da Silva who died of a heart attack on Thursday. Da Silva, one of the best strikers ever to play in South Africa, would have approved of the way Swallows won their first trophy since 2004.

Both sides opened up on the lush turf but too many niggling fouls broke up the rhythm of the first half.

The opening 45 minutes were evenly fought. Both sides created chances but it was the Birds who made the most of their chance in the 21st minute when Brazilian defender Vinicius da Silva, managed to squeeze home his countryman Igor Alves' free kick after AmaTuks keeper Siya Mngoma failed to clear Alves set piece.

But it was Tukkies who fired the first shot in anger on nine minutes when Zakhele Ndhlovu crashed a 20 metre rocket against the woodwork.

There was no quarter asked not given in a tight final. That was shown in the 24th minute when AmaTuks midfielder Thabo Moleko followed through when he and Birds keeper Greg Etafia went for a loose ball.

The Nigerian keeper came off second best after he got Moleko's boot in his face. Moleko was booked by no nonsense referee Charl Theron for the foul.

Tuks tried hard to fight back and came close to leveling the final but Mhlonishwa Dlamini's shot from the edge of the penalty area inched past the upright in the 31st minute.

Five minutes later Mngoma looked suspect when he failed to hold a shot from Alves. But the Tuks keeper managed to make amends and smother the loose ball.

AmaTuks came out smoking after the break and Birds fans were relieved when defenders Sydney Plaatjies scooped Moleko's shot off his goalline in the 55th minutes.

Moleko did well to collect the ball on the right, and was able to dribble Etafia who came off his line to clear the danger but failed and found himself in no man's land. Moleko's shot was on target, but the Namibian defender Plaatjies, read it and saved the situation for Birds.

Tuks kept pushing forward for the equaliser and again close to equalising but this time it was Richard Ferreira who shot fractionally wide of the Birds woodwork in the 64th minute.

Moleko was a constant threat to the hard working Birds as Tuks kept piling on the pressure and searching for the goal that would take the game into extra time.

However, it was not going to be Tuks or the hard working Moleko's day. Moleko had a last chance to snatch a late equaliser in the 88th minute but his powerful header skimmed past the Birds upright.

But at the end of an entertaining day it was Birds greater experience and top class defending that won the day.

Sapa

RSS
Digg
de.li.cious
facebook