In a thrilling upset, Stellenbosch FC secured a 1-0 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of their MTN8 semi-final clash at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday night.
Stellenbosch vs Sundowns: Match Recap
The match was action-packed from the start, with both teams creating chances. Stellie’s Devon Titus was a constant threat, testing Sundowns’ goalkeeper Jody February on several occasions. The breakthrough came in the 58th minute when Titus was brought down in the box by Sundowns defender Grant Kekana. Fawaaz Basadien stepped up to convert the penalty, giving Stellies a crucial lead.
Sundowns pushed for an equalizer, but Stellenbosch’s defence held firm. Goalkeeper Sage Stephens made several crucial saves, including a stunning stop to deny Arthur Sales in the 79th minute. In the dying moments of the match, Sundowns came close to levelling the score, but Stellie’s crossbar denied Thapelo Mokoena’s thunderous strike.
This victory is a major boost for Stellenbosch, who are looking to reach the MTN8 final for the first time in their history. They will take a slender one-goal advantage into the second leg, which will be played at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellies’ home ground.
Sundowns, on the other hand, will be disappointed with the result. They will need to produce a strong performance in the second leg if they want to keep their hopes of defending their MTN8 title alive.
Key takeaways from the match:
- Stellies’ defense was outstanding, limiting Sundowns’ attacking opportunities.
- Sage Stephens was the hero for Stellies, making several crucial saves.
- Fawaaz Basadien’s penalty proved to be the difference between the two sides.
- Sundowns will need to improve their finishing if they want to overturn the deficit in the second leg.
The second leg of the MTN8 semi-final promises to be another exciting encounter. Stellenbosch will be confident of securing their place in the final, while Sundowns will be determined to fight back and keep their title defense alive.
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