Tukkies Cup fairytale continues

Pretoria University's Nedbank Cup fairytale and giant killing act continued at Milpark on Sunday when they became the second First Division side in consecutive seasons to reach the final after beating PSL outfit Ajax Cape Town 2-1 after extra time in a nail-biting semi-final.

Mpumalanga Black Aces were runners-up to favourites Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2008 cup final, losing 1-0 to their PSL big brothers. Tuks will play PSL side Moroka Swallows in the cup final on May 23.

The Students should have wrapped up this semi-final in the first half but missed countless chances against an out-of-sorts Urban Warriors who never looked like beating their more organised lower league opponents.

Ajax are the third PSL side that Tuks have beaten on the way to the final. They defeated Kaizer Chiefs and Bloemfontein Celtic in the previous rounds.

Tukkies were the dominant side in a busy opening 45 minutes. They created all the goal scoring chances but good goalkeeping from Urban Warriors Andre Petim and poor finishing allowed the teams to change over 0-0 at half-time.

A feature of Tuks play in the first 45 minutes was their superb tackling and commitment that helped unsettle their PSL opponents. Tuks defence gave nothing away.

But Tuks and First Division top goal-scorer Thabo Moleko wasted a couple of scoring chances that had his coach Steve Barker tearing his hair out.

Then Tuks could not believe their luck when Phenyo Mongala's goal-bound rocket was deflected for a corner.

The pace slackened in the second half with neither side prepared to go for broke. Ajax came more into the game as Tuks failed to match their first half all-out effort.

The miss of the second half fell to Tukkies substitute Manti Moholo who ballooned his shot well over the crossbar when he should have hit the target. That miss signalled extra time.

Tuks opened the scoring when Mthokozisi Yende, out of nothing, chipped the ball over Petim to make it 1-0 in the 97th minute. But Tuks' joy was short lived when Nhlanhla Kubeka equalised four minutes later from a goal mouth scramble after a corner. The winner came from Moholo who beat Petim with a shot to the far corner in the 110th minute. - Sapa