AS Vita Club from the Democratic Republic of Congo won the new Kudu Horn trophy and a whopping R1-million after defeating Kaizer Chiefs 4-3 on penalties at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Chiefs, the former owners of the Kudu Horn after having won the Vodacom Challenge Cup three times since its launch five years ago, took home R500 000.
Vita, the newcomers, roared into the final after beating Orlando Pirates 4-3 in the semifinal last week in Mafikeng while Chiefs beat TP Mazembe 9-8 also last week.
Both semifinals, which attracted about 60 000 fans at Mmabatho Stadium, were decide by penalties.
Chiefs and Vita, who met in the first final to be staged at the FNB Stadium near Soweto on Saturday, were level 1-1 after regulation time.
The hosts, who beat Mazembe 3-2 in last year’s final, scored first through David Mathebula’s header in the 80th minute. The striker had been on the pitch for only six minutes, having replaced Derrick Spencer in the 74th minute.
His header from a cross by Thabo Mooki, who came on for Junior Khanye in the 63rd minute, was so brilliant that it gave Vita’s keeper Kalemba Lukoki no chance and left him flat-footed.
Despite leading, a deafening noise filled the stadium from Chiefs fans who spent 45 minutes on the edge of their seats as their team played poorly throughout the first half.
It came as no surprise, therefore, when Chiefs lost their narrow lead and their supporters were left dumbfounded when Ngumbi Sangula equalised in the 89th minute. Chiefs fans were already celebrating their club’s victory when the lanky late replacement caught defender Nyril Nzama napping to rattle the net with a fine header.
It was purely the never-say-die attitude of the Congolese that brought them back into the game and matters remained at stalemate until it went into penalties.
Referee Tabane Mnkantjo from Zimbabwe ordered Chiefs’ Patrick Mabedi and Nhlanhla Kubheka to take their second chances after failing in their first shoots because Vita’s goalkeeper was adjudged to have moved before the ball was kicked.
Mabedi was thwarted by Kalemba while Kubheka made sure. — Sapa