United complete miracle in Radès
SuperSport United were almost perfect in every aspect as they booked their place in the 2017 CAF Confederations Cup final following a 3-1 (4-2 on aggregate) win over Club Africain in semifinal second-leg clash at the Stade Olympique Radès on Sunday evening.
The first-leg at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville ended in a 1-1 draw.
As a result, SuperSport will take on defending champions TP Mazembe, who beat FUS Rabat on aggregate, in the final - over two legs - next month.
Bradley Grobler scored a brace for the visitors in Radès, with Jeremy Brockie also on target. Saber Khalifa netted what proved to be a mere consolation for the home side.
Held to a stalemate in the reverse fixture earlier this month, SuperSport had to score in Tunisia and following a positive start, they did just that with 16 minutes on the clock.
Teboho Mokoena's raking pass setting Thuso Phala free down the right flank and having composed himself, the winger played a pin-point ball into the area. Grobler still had a lot to do, but he made no mistake - directing a thunderous header into the top corner of the net to silence the home crowd.
Club Africain almost hit back straight away through Nicholas Opoku after Ronwen Williams failed to gather a cross into the area.
The Matsatsantsa goal-minder bailed out by Morgan Gould who cleared Opoku's attempt off the the line.
The hosts launched wave-after-wave of attack and went close through Ibrahim Chenihi in the 26th minute.His shot flying wide from close range.
Williams then pulled off a great save to deny Ghazi Ayadi nine minutes later. The midfielder's header from a corner-kick looked destined to rattle the back of the net, but SuperSport's No 1 was up to the task.
Eric Tinkler's troops 1-0 up at the interval.
Having absorbed pressure all the way leading up to the break, SuperSport came out with a more attacking mindset in the opening minutes of the second stanza and doubled their lead in the 52nd minute.
Mokoena with the defence splitting pass to set Brockie free on goal and the New Zealand international made no mistake, to net his 10th goal of the campaign.
Club Africain hit back four minutes later from the penalty sport through Khalifa. The hosts' skipper making no mistake from 12 yards following a foul by Gould.
Just as a nervy period looked sure to ensue, Grobler restored SuperSport's two-goal lead in the 64th minute. The forward linking up with Phala once more to complete his double.
The Tunisian club tried their best to get back into the game - with Clayton Daniels also clearing a shot off the line in added time - but Tinkler's troops were not to be denied a first final appearance.
The former Orlando Pirates coach, who guided the Buccaneers to the showpiece two years ago, will be hoping to go one better this time around.
Club Africain (0) 1 (Khalifa penalty 56')
SuperSport United (1) 3 (Grobler 16' 64' Brockie 52')
Club Africain: A.Dkhili; Fakherddine, Opoku (Ifa 64'), Belkhiter, Abdi, I.Dkhili, Ayadi (Darragi 56'), Khalil, Khalifa, Chenihi, Rusike (Aounallah 78').
SuperSport United: Williams; Nhlapo, Gould, Daniels, Modiba - Furman, Letsholonyane, Mokoena - Phala (Wome 80'), Grobler (Lakay 68'), Brockie (Mashamaite 60').