Nedbank Cup
Result: Mamelodi Sundowns 3-2 Bidvest Wits
Date: 08 August 2020
Venue: Orlando Stadium
Mamelodi Sundowns advanced to the Nedbank Cup final after Lyle Lakay's stunning free-kick in the last seconds secured a 3-2 win over Bidvest Wits.
Scroll through the gallery to see action from Sundowns' first game back after the lockdown.
The Brazilians made five changes from their quarter-final victory over Highlands Park, as Mosa Lebusa, Rivaldo Coetzee, Sphelele Mkhulise and Nicholus Lukhubeni while Wits goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo got a rare start alongside the returning Thulani Hlatshwayo, Deon Hotto and Haashim Domingo.
Wits were forceful in the opening exchanges and they nearly opened the scoring in the 12th minute after goalkeeper Denis Onyango spilled Hotto's long range shot into the path of Cole Alexander, who guided the strike on a rebound just wide and high.
Pitso Mosimane's charges were slowly getting into the game and they had a good chance to snatch the lead in the 22nd minute after Zwane stole possession high up the pitch, linked up with Sibusiso Vilakazi and went clear on goal on the edge of the box but he fired his strike straight at Mhlongo.
The match lacked rhythm towards the half-hour mark but Masandawana had a glorious chance to break the deadlock ten minutes before the break after Buhlebuyeza Mkhwanazi was deemed to have brought down Motjeka Madisha in the box, with the referee awarding a penalty which Ricardo Nascimento dispatched into the bottom corner for the opening goal.
Gavin Hunt's troops were fired up in search of the equaliser in the latter stages of the first stanza but they could not build any threatening momentum to claw themselves back in the contest before the break.
Wits came out firing in the second half and eventually levelled matters two minutes later as Dzvukamanja took possession away from Madisha high up the pitch, went clear on goal and looped the ball over Onyango.
However, Sundowns restored their lead nine minutes before time after a mix up between Mhlongo and Hlatshwayo allowed second-half substitute Keletso Makgalwa to slot into an empty net.
Dzvukamanja pulled Wits level again four minutes before time after gliding past Madisha on the left side of the box to fire an unstoppable low strike towards the bottom corner to complete his brace.
With the game seemingly headed for extra-time, Lyle Lakay curled hom a sensational free-kick from just outside the box past Mhlongo in the 95th minute to set up a final with Bloemfontein Celtic, who beat Baroka FC 2-0 earlier in the day.
Here's how they lined up:
Sundowns: 14. Onyango, 32. Lukhubeni, 5. Lebusa, 3. Nascimento, 2. Madisha, Coetzee, 21. Mkhulise, 8. Kekana, 11. Vilakazi, 18. Zwane, 33. Maboe.
Subs: 1. Mweene, 7. Lakay, 36. Mkhuma, 13. Mabunda, 23. Meza, 15. Jali, 4. Langerman, 26. Makgalwa, 6. Arendse.
Wits: 1. Mhlongo; 13. Hlanti, 15. Mkhwanazi, 29. Gordinho, 3. Hlatshwayo, 17. Alexander, 14. Nange, 10. Domingo, 36. Sekgota, 11. Hotto, 37. Dzvukamanja.
Subs: Prince, 19. Eva Nga, 24. Macheke, 36. Ritchie, 28. Macuphu, 26. Khunyedi, 31. Human, 38. Mathebula, 39. September.
