Mpumalanga Black Aces will meet Thanda Royal Zulu in the two legged playoff final of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) promotion/relegation playoff.
This comes after the Sammy Troughton-led side defeated National First Division Coastal Stream winners Carara Kicks 2-1 in their second leg semifinal played at the LC de Villiers Stadium on Thursday night to take the tie 3-2 on aggregate.
The first leg played in Welkom on Sunday ended 1-1.
TRZ edged out FC Cape Town on the away goal rule after drawing 1-1 in Cape Town on Thursday night. The first leg
played in Durban ended goalless.
A penalty netted by Aces Esau Mtsweni in the 66th minute saw
Aces one step closer to their dream of playing in the PSL next
season.
Kicks coach David Vilakazi won the tactical battle in the first
half by opting for a more attacking 4-3-3. Vilakazi's tactic paid
off in the 18th minute when Aces defence cracked under pressure
andA Leonard Qaba was able to head home KingstonA Nkatha's
in-swinging corner in the 18th minute.
Earlier, Kicks striker Aleni Lebyane was fractionally wide of
the Ace upright in the 11th minute.
Aces started to get their act together and Jacob Machaka shot
over the Kicks crossbar on 19 minutes.
Aces might feel unfortunate not to have been awarded a penalty
in the 29th minute when striker Sibusiso Dlamini looked to have
been fouled inside the Kicks penalty area but referee Charl Theron
waved play on.
Machaka forced Kicks keeper Abel Metsimetsi to pull off a great
save from his goal bound free kick in the 30th minute.
Aces got the winner when substitute Wilford Mothapi who had just
come on pulled down striker Madodo Motha inside his penalty area.
Theron did not hesitate to award Aces their penalty which was
calmly slotted home by Mtsweni.
Kicks seemed to run out of steam but they came close to
levelling the tie when Nkatha's shot in the 75th minute was
deflected for a corner.
Meanwhile, the draw for the PSL promotion/relegation playoff draw was made
on Thursday night.
The Draw:
First leg: Sunday May 31:
Mpumalanga Black Aces v Thanda Royal Zulu (Ackerville Stadium,
Witbank 3pm).
Second leg June 7:
Thanda Royal Zulu v Mpumalanga Black Aces (SJ Smith Stadium,
Durban 3pm).

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