UWC sent their home crowd into rapture after beating Wits 4-2 on penalties to secure a home final for the Cape side after the match ended in a goalless draw.
Both sides could have secured the win during regulation time but some lacklustre finishing cost them dearly and it was then up to the heroics of Reon October to help his side secure their first ever final.
UWC held much of the possession for the opening 15 minutes but failed to create any clear cut chances as Wits slowly began to settle in the match.
The visitors started maintaining more possession and created chances of their own but came up against a stubborn UWC defence who kept the Johannesburg students at bay to keep the match goalless after 30 minutes.
The match continued to be played at a feverish pace but failed to produce any goals in the first half as the sides went goalless into the break.
UWC remained in control after the resumption of play and continued to create to carve out scoring chances but they could not land the killer blow as the match remained deadlocked after 60 minutes.
Wits nearly found themselves in the lead in the 68th minute when Aleksandar Kocic let rip from long range, only to see his attempt hit the crossbar.
The Johannesburg students began to control the match from that point as they sent numbers forward but nearly found themselves trailing after two quick counter-attacks by UWC. Fortunately for Wits, the home side did not have enough players in support and the chances fell by the wayside.
Both sides did all they could to steal the victory in the dying minutes of the match but neither could find the back of the net and the winner had to be determined by a penalty shoot-out.
Wits took the advantage when Brylon Petersen saved UWC’s second kick but his strikers could not press home the advantage. Reon October managed to parry Wits’ third spot kick onto the upright to turn the tables back in the home side’s favour. It was up to Keenan Davis to secure the win and he did just that thanks to some luck.
His effort his the upright and rebounded off the back of Petersen’s head before dribbling over the line to send the home crowd into rapture.
FNB Man of the Match: Tapelo Sixishe
Samsung Super Striker: Aleksandar Kocic
Scorers:
For UWC: None
For Wits: None
Yellow cards: Keenan Davis (UWC), Phuthi Leboho (Wits), Muzimkhulu Nhlengethwa (Wits), Phiwokuhle Mpalala (UWC)
Teams:
UWC: 1 Reon October (captain), 6 Akhona Bonga, 2 Marshall Jansen, 13 Ashwin Kounzie, 3 Keenan Davis, 18 Thando Ziwele, 7 Thulani Mkosi, 20 Nhlanhla Manana, 19 Josh Silent, 10 Tapelo Sixishe, 23 Ryan Steer.
Substitutes: 16 Amanzo Jacobs, 15 Lwando Ngqwemla, 17 Mfundo Majola, 14 Ayanda Nkukwana, 11 Chad Smith, 12 Phiwokuhle Mpalala, 25 Shakeel Sadien.
Wits: 1 Brylon Petersen, 8 Hope Munyai (captain), 5 Kaizer Maphanga, 3 Saluleko Mathonsi, 11 Neo Makua, 15 Muzimkhulu Nhlengethwa, 4 Aleksandar Kocic, 23 Lyndon Crouch, 7 Wonderboy Frank, 12 Phuthi Leboho, 9 Gift Baloyi.
Substitutes: 25 Zawadi Dlamini, 6 Innocent Magasela, 17 Thabiso Rafanyane, 10 Mahle Mtabane, 14 Graeme Dor, 18 Samkelo Thutshini, 24 Mahudu Seageng.
