Mamelodi Sundowns stay on track for South African double

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Mamelodi Sundowns stayed on course for a South African league and cup double when they won 2-1 at Stellenbosch near Cape Town on Sunday in an FA Cup semi-final thriller.Sundowns will face title-holders Orlando Pirates on June 1 in a final between the two biggest current crowd-pullers in northeastern city Mbombela.Goals from Khuliso Mudau on 11 minutes and substitute Thembinkosi Lorch after 74 minutes put Sundowns in control before a cup tie watched by a sell-out 12,000 crowd took a dramatic turn.

Namibian Peter Shalulile blazed an 80th-minute Sundowns penalty over the bar and 60 seconds later Genino Palace halved the deficit.

The Stellenbosch goal set up a tense finish, but the hosts failed to score again and force the semi-final into extra time.

Defeat ended a 25-match unbeaten run in all competitions by the western Cape winelands club, who lie second in the league behind Sundowns.

Sundowns clinched a seventh straight Premiership title in midweek by hammering Kaizer Chiefs 5-1 and are unbeaten in 33 domestic matches since the season began last August.

On Saturday, Kabelo Dlamini scored twice during the first half as Pirates triumphed 3-1 at Chippa United in eastern coastal city Gqeberha.

Elmo Kambindu, a teammate of Shalulile in the Namibian national team, gave Chippa hope with a goal midway through the second half before a 40,000 crowd.

But Pirates regained their two-goal advantage nine minutes from time when Tapelo Xoki poked the ball into the net from close range.

 

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: Twitter @iDiskiTimes

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Dylan Johnson