Magesi FC made history after advancing to the Carling Knockout final with a 1-0 win over Richards Bay FC on Saturday afternoon.
Carling Knockout
Result: Richards Bay 0-1 Magesi FC
Date: 09 November 20224
Venue: King Zwelithini Stadium
Richards Bay were boosted by the return of Yamela Mbuthuma from suspension alongside recalls for Justice Figuareido and Keegan Allan, as three changes from their narrow loss against Orlando Pirates.
Magesi, meanwhile, were unchanged from their win over TS Galaxy in the quarter-finals, as Wonderboy Makhubu, Tshepo Kakora, Tshepo Mashigo and Edmore Chirambadare led their attack.
The Natal Rich Boyz did most of the attacking in the early stages but it took them until midway into the first stanza to have a shot on target, as goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze kept out a shot from Tlakusani Mthethwa from the edge of the box.
Clinton Larsen's charges were waiting for their chances on counter-attacks and were clinical with their first transition, just before the half-hour mark, as Tshepo Mashigo broke the deadlock with a volleyed shot after he went through on goal.
The hosts nearly replied a moment later after Somila Ntsundwana went through on goal but he was denied by Chipezeze who smothered his close-range effort in a one-on-one.
The game opened up in the latter phase of the first stanza but Brandon Truter's men in particular were not clinical with their opportunities and went to the break trailing by an odd goal.
The second stanza took time to get going as The Natal Rich Boyz started to threaten around the hour-mark, with Mbuthuma and Figuareido denied by Chipezeze.
Richards Bay gained momentum after that as with 22 minutes remaining, Allan almost levelled matters with a glancing header in the box but the Zimbabwean shot-stopper made another crucial save.
Truter made an attacking and tactical change after that as Thabang Sibanyoni replaced Nkosikhona Ndaba.
However, Richards Bay had a mountain to climb six minutes before time after they were down to ten men after Mthethwa got a second booking and was sent off.
Richards Bay pinned Dikwena in their own half in the dying minutes but they could not get chances, as Larsen's men secured their first ever Carling Knockout final.
Here's how they lined up:
Richards Bay: Otieno, Allan, Ndaba, Mabua, Mcineka, Mthethwa, Mabuya, Mthembu, Figareido, Mbuthuma, Ntsundwana
Subs: Manqele, Gcaba, Zikhali, Dube, Sithebe, Ndelu, Gumede, Buthelezi, Sibanyoni
Magesi FC: Chipezeze , Mashigo, J. Mokone, L. Mokone, Mzava, Darpoh, Abrahams, Mekoa, Makhubu, Kakora, Chirambadare.
Subs: Mpandle, Baloyi, Everson, Buthelezi, Manzini, Njoti, Rademeyer, Masegela, Matima
