Classic lift trophy after penalty shoot-out
Magogeni Classic became the first team to lift up the newly coveted Tsamaya Trophy after a dramatic 6-5 penalty win against Shongwe Chiefs at the Driekoppies Stadium this past Saturday.
Gugu Mathebula of Magogeni Classic opened the score 10 minutes before the half-time break after pestering Shongwe Chiefs’ defence.
Vusi Masinga was a busy goalkeeper in the opening minutes, stopping a tame effort from Mathebula in the second minute after he received a through ball from Dumisani Mbazima, when he intercepted a stray pass in the midfield.
After 10 minutes of play Chiefs begun to show positive signs when they tested their rival’s goalkeeper, Buhle Metiso, with a
long-range effort from outside the box, which he took with ease.
Classic dominated the middle of the field and dictated the pace of the game. They were disciplined at the back and extremely aggressive in front of goal, with three strikers attacking the posts at all times.
In the 12th minute Classic were given a chance to send players into Shongwe Chiefs box when Mathebula was brought down inches outside of it.
Charles Mkhatshwa stepped up to take the free kick and connected with Mbazima’s head to be denied by the top crossbar.
Mathebula eventually broke the deadlock in the 38th minute when he found the net when Chiefs defenders were caught ball- watching after they had temporarily cleared their lines.
Minutes after scoring he came close to extending Classic’s lead four times before the half-time interval.
Masinga had to be substituted before the break after clashing with Mathebula during one of the attacks where they went one-on-one.
The teams went into the break with Magogeni Classic players getting the better of skilful and experienced Shongwe Chiefs players.
In the second half Chiefs came onto the field with a more aggressive strategy, spending the opening 10 minutes of the second half in
Classic’s half.
After 15 minutes Mathebula reminded rival defenders that they
were still in the game and that he wanted to put the match well beyond their reach, when he outpaced Chiefs defenders on the left flank and fired away, only for his shot to once again be kept out by the top crossbar.
Mkhatshwa was not going to allow Mathebula to have all the fun when he intercepted another stray pass and ran down the right flank and into the box, only to selfishly find the right corner net, when he had two other options available.
Minutes afterwards it was desperate defending that managed to keep Magogeni Classic from getting their second goal from a corner kick into the box.
Five minutes from the 90-minutes mark, Zakhele Thabethe levelled matters and sent the game to be decided on penalties, after Chiefs were given a penalty when one of theirs was taken down inside the box.
Losers final results Might Blizzards 0 (4) – Mashaba Unitted 0 (3).
