LIMPOPO – Masipala FC of Ward 10 in Ngove village saw their Greater Giyani Municipality Mayor’s Cup title hopes to come to an end on Saturday after they were knocked out in a dramatic semi-final against Secha-Six FC of Ward 18, Muyexe village, at Giyani Stadium.

The match turned into a tense and unpredictable contest, with Masipala taking a 2-0 lead in the second half before eventually losing 3-2 on penalties after the sides were locked at 2-2 at the end of extra time.

Chasing former glory

Masipala entered the semi-final carrying the weight of their history in the competition, with spectators tipping them as favourites to win the game. Before 2017, the Ward 10 side was among the dominant forces in the Mayor’s Cup, regularly lifting the trophy and establishing itself as one of the teams to beat.

READ MORE: Ward 10’s Masipala hunt first final since 2017 dominance ended

For several years, Masipala were regarded as one of the competition’s football powerhouses. However, their dominance was eventually challenged by a new generation of teams that emerged to compete for the title.

Saturday’s semi-final was therefore seen by many of their supporters as an opportunity for Masipala to revive their fortunes and take another step towards reclaiming their former status.

Despite the high expectations, the match got off to a difficult start for the Ward 10 side.

Secha-Six dominate early exchanges

Secha-Six, who entered the contest with less pressure and little expectation from supporters, played with determination and confidence.

The Ward 18 side dominated much of the first half, putting Masipala under sustained pressure and making their more experienced opponents look vulnerable.

Masipala struggled to impose themselves on the game during the opening half, allowing Secha-Six to dictate the tempo and threaten their defence.

The second half, however, brought a dramatic turnaround as Masipala returned from the break with renewed determination.

Two-goal cushion slips away

For a moment, things looked good for Masipala as they managed to score two goals without reply from their opponents, putting themselves in a commanding position. Their supporters responded with loud celebrations, believing their team had done enough to secure a place in the final.

But Secha-Six refused to surrender. The Ward 18 side were awarded a penalty with only a few minutes remaining in normal time, which they converted to reduce the deficit to 2-1.

The goal gave Secha-Six renewed belief as they continued to fight for an equaliser.

Late drama forces shootout

Their persistence eventually paid off in the dying stages of extra time. With only about a minute remaining before the final whistle, Secha-Six found the back of the net again to make it 2-2, sending the semi-final into a penalty shootout.

Secha-Six held their nerve from the spot, winning the shootout 3-2 to complete a dramatic comeback and book their place in the Mayor’s Cup final.

The victory sends Ward 18 into the final, where they will face Ward 21 of Dzingidzingi village.