Chipezeze-inspired Magesi edge Richards Bay to reach Carling KO final
Magesi FC claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Richards Bay in the Carling Knockout semifinal match at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban on Saturday afternoon.
Therefore, Dikwena Tsa Meetse reached their first major cup final where they will lock horns with either Mamelodi Sundowns or Marumo Gallants at the Toyota Stadium on 23 November.
The Natal Rich Boys, on the other hand, bowed out of the Carling Knockout semifinals for the second year running and they will turn their attention to their Betway Premiership clash against Kaizer Chiefs on 27 November.
Neither goalkeeper was tested in the opening 15 minutes of the encounter as both teams struggled to keep possession in the final third in order to try to create goalscoring opportunities.
However, the deadlock was broken in the 27th minute following a mistake by Tshepo Mabua whose poor back pass was fired home by his namesake Tshepo Mashigo and Magesi were 1-0 up at halftime.
Elvis Chipezeze was the busier of the two goalkeepers after the restart - denying Yanela Mbuthuma at the near post on the hour-mark before gathering an attempt from Justice Figareido in the 62nd minute.
The Zimbabwean shot-stopper then pulled off a good save to deny Keegan Allan in the 68th minute before Richards Bay were reduced to 10 players in the 84th minute after Tlakusani Mthethwa was sent off and Magesi held on to win 1-0.
Richards (0) 0
Magesi (1) 1 (Mashigo 27')
Richards: Otieno, Mabua, Allan, Mncineka, Mthethwa, Mthembu (Sithebe 79'), Mabuya, Ndaba (Sibanyoni 69'), Figareido (Gumede T 79'), Mbuthuma (Zikhali 86'), Ntsundwana
Magesi: Chipezeze, Chirambadare (Rademeyer 82'), Mokone J., Abrahams, Mokone L., Mzava, Darpoh, Mekoa (Masegela 75'), Kakora, Makhubu, Mashigo (Matima 90')