Magesi FC have an opportunity to join a list of clubs who went into cup finals as underdogs and pulled off victories that live long in the memories of South African football followers.
They face a Mamelodi Sundowns side that's determined to get a trophy in the cabinet just before their CAF Champions League group stage campaign begins, so the Tshwane giants are expected to stamp their authority and dominate proceedings in an effort to bag the title. History, however, shows that the underdog should not always be underestimated and Soccer Laduma looks back at cup final upsets.
READ: The Secret To Downs Midfielder's Return
1999 BobSave Superbowl
SuperSport United 2-1 Kaizer Chiefs
After Amakhosi had won the Rothman's Cup in 1997 and 1998, they were tipped as favourites to overcome a SuperSport side that had never won a major trophy in the PSL. The late Thomas Madigage and Glen Salmon scored for SuperSport and while Pollen Ndlanya pulled one back for Chiefs towards the end, it was too little too late.
2000 Rothman's Cup
Ajax Cape Town 4-1 Orlando Pirates
With Gordon Igesund at the helm at Pirates and Ajax Cape Town featuring youngsters like Steve Pienaar and Brett Evans, many had tipped the Buccaneers to outclass the Urban Warriors, but what happened that day will probably never be forgotten. The final needed to be replayed after the initial match ended 1-1. Carlo Scott netted a brace in the first half, before Evans and Jeremy Jansen wrapped it up with second half goals as the Urban Warriors cruised to a 4-1 victory over a Pirates side that had experienced campaigners. Pirates went on to win the league that season.
2001 BobSave SuperBowl
Santos 1-0 Mamelodi Sundowns
This cup final victory happened a season before Santos won the league, so it was quite a shock, considering Sundowns were in good form as a club and had gone all the way to the CAF Champions League final later that year. Santos had the late Clive Barker as their coach and Tyren Arendse, who joined Sundowns a few years later from Orlando Pirates, scored the winner for the People's Team. It was Santos' first major title in the PSL era.
2002 Coca Cola Cup
Jomo Cosmos 1-0 Kaizer Chiefs
Cosmos were a competitive side, so the one big reason this counts as an upset is that Amakhosi had hammered them 5-0 in the final the previous season. Many were expecting Chiefs to hammer Ezenkosi again, but Mozambican striker Tico-Tico Bucuane netted the only goal of the game in the first half to seal the win for Jomo Sono's side.
2007 Absa Cup
Ajax Cape Town 2-0 Mamelodi Sundowns
The 2007 Sundowns team featured the likes of Surprise Moriri, Godfrey Sapula, Josta Dladla, Lerato Chabangu, Esrom Nyandoro and Jose Torrealba, so Muhsin Ertugral's young guns at Ajax stood little chance against their star-studded opponents, right? Wrong! Bryce Moon and Franklin Cale scored for the Urban Warriors to seal a memorable victory. A young Clifford Ngobeni is remembered for outclassing Sapula in the middle of the park that evening at Kings Park Stadium.
READ: Crucial Update On Mvala Ahead Of Cup Final
2018 Telkom Knockout
Baroka 2-2 Orlando Pirates (Baroka won 3-2 on penalties)
Playing in their first ever knockout competition final, Baroka came up against a Pirates side coached by Milutin Sredojevic, who was in his second spell with the Soweto giants. It was the perfect opportunity for Micho, as he is affectionately known, to secure a title, but Baroka had other ideas, taking the game all the way to penalties before holding their nerve to overcome their more established opponents.
2019 Nedbank Cup
TS Galaxy 1-0 Kaizer Chiefs 0
Probably the biggest upset in South African football history. The day a second tier club beat a giant in South African football. Galaxy became the first National First Division (now Motsepe Foundation Championship) club to win a major competition, as Zakhele Lepasa scored a late penalty to make history for the club.
