Late drama as Sundowns are crowned 2019 TKO champions!

Mamelodi Sundowns rallied from behind to be crowned Telkom Knockout champions after beating Maritzburg United 2-1 in controversial circumstances on Saturday evening at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Read: Sundowns and Maritzburg tussle in TKO final!

Coach Pitso Mosimane brought back big guns after being rested, with Themba Zwane, Sphelele Mkhulise and Motjeka Madisha being the only three that kept their places in the starting line-up from their last game with Stellenbosch FC.

Influential players such as goalkeeper Denis Onyango, Gaston Sirino, Tebogo Langerman and Hlompho Kekana returned, meanwhile, the Team of Choice also had wholesale changes from their last outing, as shot-stopper Richard Ofori, Kwanda Mngonyama, Daylon Claasen and Mxolisi Kunene were among those returning in the starting team.

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The Brazilians saw off their KwaZulu-Natal opponents for their second major silverware of 2019 (Image: Yahoo Sports)

First half

The opening half belonged coach Eric Tinkler’s charges who almost got off to a dream start in the second minute after Judas Moseamedi’s pressure pilled up on Mosa Lebusa and Onyango which led to them colliding with each other inside the box.

Mosimane’s troops got their rhythm back after the half-hour mark, however six minutes before the break Tinkler’s side finally broke the deadlock after Moseamedi chased a long ball from the defence to put the ball into an empty net.

Second half

The Brazilians came out fired up from the break to eventually level the matters nine minutes in after a towering header by South American Mauricio Affonso.

Sixteen minutes before the stoppage, Affonso finally gave Mosimane’s charges the two-goal lead after nodding home a corner from Sirino to complete his brace.

The was drama on the last minute of the game as Moseamedi found the back of the net with a header, however the goal was disallowed for offside giving Masandawana a victory and to be crowned the Telkom Knockout Cup Champions.

Starting XI:

Maritzburg: 31. Ofori, 5. Morgan, 36. Kunene, 45. Mngonyama, 23. De Reuck, 4. Allie, 8. Buchanan, 14. Claasen, 26. Shandu, 15. Timm, 20. Moseamedi.

Subs: 30. Mpandle, 3. Sanoka, 11. Jappie, 29. Mekoa, 13. Lea’alafa, 7. Kutumela, 17. Augusto.

Sundowns: 14. Onyango, 4. Langerman, 27. Morena, 2. Madisha, 15. Jali, 8. Kekana, 5. Lebusa, 18. Zwane, 21. Mkhulise, 10. Sirino, 9. Affonso.

Subs: 1. Mweene, 6. Arendse, 7. Lakay, 16. Ngcongca, 26. Makgalwa, 13. Mabunda, 11. Vilakazi.