Gallant Usuthu deserve final spot

The manner in which AmaZulu have advanced to the final of the Nedbank Cup suggests they might as well be crowned champions.

AmaZulu finished their third successive Nedbank Cup game with 10 men and still overcame Mamelodi Sundowns 4-3 on penalties to book a spot in this weekend's final against Bidvest Wits at Soccer City. Wits had qualified earlier by beating Free State stars 3-1 after extra-time.

"This cup is meant for us," said AmaZulu technical director Clive Barker. Coincidentally he was in charge of the side when they last made it to a final 18 years ago and beat Kaizer Chiefs 3-1 to lift the Coca-Cola Cup.

"We were down to 10 men and showed guts, and fighting spirit. It could have been 8-8. They had their chances but we came through at the end. It's beautiful, marvellous," said Barker.

This will be AmaZulu's first final of the season after twice before losing in semifinals, in the MTN8 and in the Telkom Knockout. They have a chance to pocket R6-million and bring a second trophy to Durban after Golden Arrows won the MTN8.

On Saturday night, British goalkeeper Nick Gindre capped AmaZulu's heroic fight-back, following midfielder Thabo Mabaso's sending off, when he saved three spot-kicks during the shoot-out. Earlier, substitute striker Sandile Gumede scored the equaliser in the 90th minute to see the tie level at 1-1, necessitating extra-time. Sundowns had gone ahead through a strike from Lebohang Mokoena.

This was the second time that Gumede scored at the death to take AmaZulu into extra-time and penalties. In an earlier round he did it against Moroka Swallows, a game in which left-back Marc van Heerden was sent off. In the next round defender Warren Bishop was red-carded against his old side AmaTuks as Usuthu won 2-1.

That fortune is smiling on Usuthu can be read from the fact that they had midfielder Tsweu Mokoro's penalty saved by goalkeeper Brian Baloyi during normal time and still advanced.

During the shoot-out, Gindre kept out kicks from Matthew Pattison, Luvhengo Mungomeni and Benedict Vilakazi. The AmaZulu penalty takers failed to take full advantage as Siphiwe Mkhonza and Mokoro sent their spot-kicks off target. However, midfielder Lita Ngxabi slotted in his sudden-death kick to send AmaZulu into the final.

"This is long overdue. We should have wrapped it up in the first half when we had the opportunities. This is great for AmaZulu and KwaZulu-Natal," said coach Neil Tovey, a former Sundowns coach.

AmaZulu and Wits will be the first teams to play at the venue refurbished for the World Cup. Soccer City will host the opening match between Bafana Bafana and Mexico.