The cup jinx that has blighted Mamelodi Sundowns for the past six years persisted on Sunday as Ajax Cape Town squeezed into the final of the lucrative Telkom Knockout following a penalty shoot-out at Rustenburg’s Olympia Park.
Hans Vonk emerged the hero of Ajax’s 5-3 penalty victory on a sweltering afternoon after the teams had finished level 1-1 after extra time. The seasoned former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper saved a spot kick from Benson Mhlongo and then hammered the final nail into Sundowns’ coffin by converting the last of the five penalty kicks himself.
In truth, Vonk was rarely tested during the 120 minutes of play by a lacklustre Sundowns, who were materially responsible for failing to qualify for a final, R4,25-million showdown against Silver Stars.
It was a nightmarish occasion that will haunt Mhlongo in particular, with the ”strongman” Bafana utility defender committing an elementary error that enabled Tembinkosi Fonteni to equalise for Ajax with an agile, angled shot in the 43rd minute, and the former Wits player faltering in the shoot-out as well.
Although only firing on half their cylinders, Sundowns had looked in control for much of the opening period and gone ahead by a smartly taken goal from Venezuelan international striker Jose Torrealba in the 38th minute.
But matters began to deteriorate ominously after the interval for Sundowns when each of the substitutions made by coach Gordon Igesund only appeared to send the Brazilians into disarray.
The introduction of Clement Mazibuko — who is not known for functioning effectively under pressure — and the 2m-tall but inexperienced Lungisani Ndlela also deprived Sundowns of two potential penalty takers in Torrealba and Tyren Arendse for the deciding shoot-out.
Sundowns ultimately seemed in a state of confusion over who should take their penalties. Vonk exclaimed afterwards: ”We have been practising penalties for weeks, and when the game went into a shoot-out we knew we would win.”
”I’m proud of my youngsters,” said Ajax coach Muhsin Ertugral. ”They fought like tigers and were never overawed by the occasion or their much-vaunted opponents.”
Sundowns’ misery and that of their supporters in a 13 000-strong crowd was epitomised by the stunned appearance of multimillionaire owner Patrice Motsepe, who viewed the proceedings with concern.
Ultimately, the verdict resulted in what seemed Motsepe’s worst fears materialising — Sundowns again not avoiding defeat in games at Olympia Park. — Sapa