SuperSport United booked their spot in the Telkom Knockout final following a narrow 1-0 semi-final victory over Orlando Pirates at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.

The opening 10 minutes of the match started lively when Thabo Mnyamane tried his luck from long range to test Jackson Mabokgwane, while Mpho Makola fired his effort at goal over the bar from close range.

Matsatsantsa went on to break the deadlock in the 21st minute when Mnyamane pounced on a loose ball in the box and guided it past Pirates goalkeeper Mabokgwane to make it 1-0.

The Buccaneers saw a lot of ball possession but failed to create any clear-cut opportunities in the final third.

Their first real chance at goal came in the 36th minute when Luvuyo Memela forced United goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse into making a fine save from distance.

The visiting side came close to levelling matters just before half-time when Thabo Rakhale blazed his effort over the crossbar.

The Buccaneers pressed for an equaliser and came close in the 70th minute, when Thabo Qalinge beat his marker before unleashing a strike at goal that went just wide of the upright.

However, Pirates were reduced to 10 men in the 80th minute when Thabo Matlaba was shown a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on United striker Jeremy Brockie.

SuperSport United held on to their 1-0 lead until the final whistle to book their spot in the Telkom Knockout Cup final against Cape Town City, who defeated Free State Stars in the first semi-final of the day.

Image: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix