Stellenbosch see off Richards Bay to book cup final ticket

Stellenbosch finally ended their semifinal hoodoo after beating Richards Bay 3-0 at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday afternoon to advance to the Carling Knockout final.

Second-half goals from Devin Titus, Anicet Oura and Antonio Van Wyk sent Kaitano Tembo's side packing as the Maroons cleared the penultimate hurdle of a cup competition at the third time of asking.

Stellies had been knocked out in the semifinals of both the Nedbank Cup and the MTN8 this year and were looking for only their second victory in Durban since 2016.

Both teams were bidding to reach their first-ever cup final, with Richards Bay having dispatched Soweto duo Moroka Swallows and Orlando Pirates in the previous two rounds, while Steve Barker's side eliminated Chippa United and Polokwane City.

The hosts made a bright start and created two early chances as Moses Mthembu sent his shot from range wide of the left post in the sixth minute before Justice Figuareido skied his effort from inside the box two minutes later.

After Titus also failed to hit the target from distance on 14 minutes, Philasande Manqele was called into action midway through the first half to tip Oura's shot over the crossbar for a corner.

Titus was again guilty of not working the goalkeeper on 32 minutes when he fired wide of the right post from inside the 18-yard area and the score remained goalless at the break.

The Natal Rich Boyz went on the attack early in the second half as Langelihle Mhlongo and Lwandile Mabuya both had long-range attempts that missed the target inside the opening three minutes, but instead, the deadlock was broken at the other end on 51 minutes in one swift move.

A long ball from Sage Stephens found Iqraam Rayners and he lobbed the ball to the back post from an acute angle for Titus to tap home from close range after Manqele could only get fingertips to it.

Jayden Adams squandered a golden opportunity to double the visitors' advantage on 58 minutes when he missed the goal from close range from a corner, while Sanele Barns was unable to test Stephens with a direct free-kick that sailed over the bar in the 67th minute.

However, Oura would soon spare Adams' blushes as he converted a corner at close range on 69 minutes to give the Cape Winelands outfit some breathing room.

Richards Bay looked to respond, with Somila Ntsundwana flashing a shot wide of the right post in the 73rd minute and then directing a header over the bar moments later before Mabuya steered a cross narrowly past the near post from an angle on the right in the 84th minute.

But Van Wyk put the cup tie to bed soon afterwards as he curled the ball into the bottom right corner of the net after latching onto a pass from Darrel Matsheke inside the box.

Richards Bay (0) 0

Stellenbosch (0) 3 (Titus 51', Oura 70', Van Wyk 86')

RICHARDS BAY: P. Manqele, L. Mabuya, S. Mthethwa, S. Mcineka, A. Banda, S. Barns, M. Mthembu, B. Komane, L. Mhlongo, T. Gumede, J. Figuareido.

STELLENBOSCH: S. Stephens, D. van Rooyen, T. Moloisane, I. Toure, F. Basadien, J. Adams, S. Nduli, G. Palace, D. Titus, I. Rayners, A. Oura.