Dramatic match sees Cedars lift cup

It has been a year of excellent achievements for Benoni Cedars FC and their 3-2 ELFA Cup final victory at Luso Africa, in Primrose, on Sunday, September 15, capped off a fine season for the senior team after securing promotion to the Super League recently.

The team squared up against Impala FC from Springs and drama was the order of the day.

The game started brightly for Cedars’ opposition who could have easily opened the scoring early on when a powerfully hit strike smashed into the Cedar’s crossbar.

The match ebbed and flowed with both teams playing attractive football with sleek passing and silky touches in the midfield.

As the first half progressed Cedars’ speedy number 11, Daniel Hlabangane, broke the defensive line but his shot crashed into the side netting.

The Benoni team’s Ugwu Marcel found the back of the net but this goal was ruled offside.

Impala won a number of corner kicks in the first half but could not trouble the Cedars goalkeeper.

Just before the half concluded a goalkeeping howler from Impala allowed Cedars’ Tshepo Moeketsi to bury the ball into an open net and send his side into the break 1-0 up.

When the second half commenced it was Cedars who were seeing more of the ball and they doubled their lead courtesy of another goalkeeping error from Impala with Marcel scoring the second.

In a few short minutes Impala found their shooting boots and scored two quick goals that left the Cedars’ goalkeeper flatfooted.

This saw the match kick into overdrive and there were nervy moments for both sides as the final whistle loomed.

Cedars won a free kick in the final few minutes and it seemed an impossible distance to score from.

Up stepped William Ajie whose long range effort snuck past the Impala goalkeeper who will have sleepless nights after his performance.

The goal secured the win for his team and allowed the celebrations to commence for Cedars.

Senior coach Des Zackey commented: “At 2-0 up I thought that the game was done but we went to sleep and started dropping deeper which allowed the opposition the chance to attack.

“When it got to 2-2 the game could have gone either way but as true champions we fought back to get the win.”

“This our second cup in two years [Cedars won the Division One Cup title in 2012] and we can only go upwards from here,” he added.

“It feels great to win another cup for Benoni.”