History repeated itself at Olen Park on Sunday when Supersport United reached the final of the Coca-Cola Cup by defeating Wits University 4-3 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out after neither side had scored during a dull semifinal match that ended in pouring rain.
United beat the Students on penalties in the semifinal of the SAA Supa 8 Cup recently, and went on to win that trophy by beating Kaizer Chiefs in the final.
United will again play Amakhosi in the Coke Cup final on December 18 at a venue yet to be decided. Chiefs will not be scared of United after watching them score a rather lucky win.
There was little to get excited about in Sunday’s first 45 minutes. All the action came at the end of the half after the Students decided to put their opponents under pressure.
United goalkeeper Calvin Marlin did well to punch away a dangerous cross aimed at Etienne Bito’o in the 45th minute. For the rest of the half, the defences were tight and gave nothing away.
Wits were the better side in the second half. United’s Richard Rantjie who almost broke the deadlock in the 47th minute, but he shot wide of the target.
Wits’ Zimbabwean striker Alois Bunjira missed a sitter in the 48th minute; then teammate Charles Yohane was wide after 57 minutes. Wits kept the pressure up and Etienne Bito’o’s shot was deflected for a corner in the 62nd minute.
But it was a bad miss from experienced United striker Manual ”Tico Tico” Bucuane that frustrated his side and bench in the 68th minute.
Bito’o hit the post five minutes into extra time and from the rebound substitute Reagan Noble missed an open goal.
At the other end, Wits ‘keeper Wayne Roberts did well to deny United substitute Dikgang Mabalane a goal two minutes from the end of extra time.
The penalty shoot-out lottery and extra time were played in pouring rain, but it was United who held their nerve as Siboniso Gaxa slotted home the winning kick. — Sapa