Mamelodi Sundowns are on course for the domestic treble after securing their place in the Nedbank Cup final with a 2-1 win over Royal AM at Chatsworth Stadium.
Sundowns came into the game knowing they would meet Marumo Gallants in the final should they get past a tricky AM side in a game dubbed the final before the final.
Currently the top two sides in the DStv Premiership, Sundowns would have been full of confidence after wrapping up the league title with four games to spare in mid-week.
But against John Maduka’s men who’ve been one of the standout performers bar Masandawana this campaign – they were up against it with few clear-cut opportunities in the opening half.
However, the game opened up in the second half and Sundowns could have been awarded two penalties, one from a handball and the next when Pavol Šafranko was fouled just inside the area.
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But after receiving a free-kick, after much debate, Aubrey Modiba stepped up to open the scoring via a wicked deflection to see the effort fly past goalkeeper Hugo Nyame.
The never-say-die attitude of Royal AM came through though, as Thabo Matlaba found the equaliser with a rasping effort past Denis Onyango – his first of the season seemed to have kept the last-four tie alive.
But a defensive lapse of concentration with Nyame saw Peter Shalulile chase a clearance down which saw Šafranko presented with an opportunity to tap the ball into an empty net.
His ninth goal of the season proved to be his last contribution as he looked to have injured his ankle when Lesego Manganyi looked to block his effort from close range.
But it was his effort that secured the win and their place in the final of the domestic cup competition and just one game away from securing a historic treble.
