The Carling Knockout Cup has dished up some superb finals over the years since the competition was first played in 1982. We pick out 10 of the best!
1992
AMAZULU 3-1 KAIZER CHIEFS
After extra-time
One of the most famous days in AmaZulu’s history as they took on the much more fancied Kaizer Chiefs in the final of the Coca-Cola Cup and returned home with a comprehensive win, which is incidentally also the last time they lifted a trophy! Chiefs would end up league champions this season and had a superb team packed with stars such as Doctor Khumalo, Tovey, Lucas Radebe, Fani Madida and Ace Khuse. But it was Usuthu, who had a poor league campaign and ended 15th, who scored through their star striker George Dearnaley, Ephraim Mwale and Simon Magagula. Johannes Phadime had equalised for Chiefs before Usuthu completed their famous win.
1994
QWAQWA STARS 3-2 HELLENIC
After extra-time
A five-goal thriller that ended in victory for QwaQwa Stars, who would later go on to change their name to Free State Stars and become a fixture in the South African topflight until their relegation in 2019. This would be their first major trophy win as Bunene Ngaduane scored a brace and Meshack Tsotetsi netted in the first minute of extra-time to seal victory for the team. Hellenic were denied the trophy but scored goals through David Peterson and Gerald Stober.
1998
KAIZER CHIEFS 2-2 MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
After extra-time; Chiefs won 2-1 on penalties
A game for the ages between the top two teams of the era with the drama of a penalty shoot-out as Chiefs finally won 2-1 via Pollen Ndlanya’s kick in sudden death. Chiefs were ahead in the game after just a minute as Thabo Mooki scored, but Sundowns equalised on 75 minutes when Joel Masilela blasted past Brian Baloyi in the Chiefs goal. Alex Bapela put The Brazilians ahead in extra-time, but Siyabonga Nomvethe sent the game to penalties after he collected Neil Tovey’s long ball to make it 2-2.
2000
AJAX CAPE TOWN 4-12 ORLANDO PIRATES
The first match between the two finished 1-1, but instead of going to penalties, there was a replay of the final and it was a young, brash Ajax side who triumphed against the odds. They took an early lead through Brett Evans before further goals from Carlo Scott (two) and Jeremy Jansen sealed the unlikely triumph for a club who had only been formed a year earlier.
2001
KAIZER CHIEFS 5-0 JOMO COSMOS
For eight years this was the biggest winning margin ever in a South African cup final as Chiefs overwhelmed Jomo Cosmos before Lamontville Golden Arrows took that mantle with their 6-0 thrashing of Ajax Cape Town in the 2009 MTN8 decider. Chiefs were simply too good for Ezenkosi as they took the lead in the first half through current assistant coach Arthur Zwane. Cosmos hung in there until the final 20 minutes, when the AmaKhosi ran riot as Kenny Niemach added a second, Jabu Pule (now Mahlangu) got two more and Stanton Fredericks put the cherry on top with a fifth.
2006
SILVER STARS 3-1 AJAX CAPE TOWN
Silver Stars would later become more popularly known as Platinum Stars but sealed a first major trophy win in fine style as they beat Ajax 3-1 in this decider thanks to a hattrick from their star forward Simba Marumo. It remains the only hat trick scored in the final of this competition and led the side from the North West to a deserved victory. Serge Bageta got a late consolation for Ajax.
2010
KAIZER CHIEFS 3-0 ORLANDO PIRATES
Chiefs were defending champions when they won back-to-back titles in 2010, thumping their arch-rivals Pirates in fine style. Striker Sthembiso Ngcobo scored in either half before winger Siphiwe Tshabalala added a third in front of a 90,000 crowd at FNB Stadium. It is always magical to win a trophy, but to do so by beating your local rivals is truly special.
2012
BLOEMFONTEIN CELTIC 1-0 MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
Now defunct Celtic won only their third major trophy with a famous win over Sundowns, a match that proved to be the last in charge of The Brazilians for temperamental Dutch coach Johan Neeskens. The only goal was a controversial one as the whole ball did not appear to cross the line after Joel Mogorosi’s header. Goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb was in inspired form for Siwelele, saving brilliantly from Teko Modise and Anthony Laffor as Celtic held on.
2014
SUPERSPORT UNITED 3-2 PLATINUM STARS
After extra-time
One of the best cup finals in any competition in South African history for drama, this game had everything and was a thrill-a-minute from start to finish. Stars took the lead through Robert Ng’ambi as he fired past Ronwen Williams in the SuperSport goal, but Clayton Daniels drew Matsatsantsa level with a penalty 10 minutes before the break. The game went to extra-time and SuperSport went ahead with a second penalty from Daniels. Stars, who were defending champions, equalised via a thumping Mogakolodi Ngele volley from the edge of the area, before Williams saved a penalty from Eleazar Rodgers. That might have won it for Stars, but SuperSport went up the other end and got the winner via former Dikwena stalwart Thuso Phala.
2018
BAROKA FC 2-2 ORLANDO PIRATES
After extra-time; Baroka won 3-2 on penalties
Pirates were heavy favourites going into this contest and expected to brush Baroka FC aside, but led by former Kaizer Chiefs player Wedson Nyirenda, the Limpopo club pulled off a major shock to lift their first and, to date only, trophy. The Buccaneers were not helped by a straight red card for midfielder Marshall Munetsi before halftime, and Jemondre Dickens opened the scoring for Baroka. Musa Nyatama drew Pirates level when he scored from close range, which took the game to extra-time. Mduduzi Mdantsane, now at Chiefs, netted a penalty to restore the Baroka lead before Thembinkosi Lorch equalised for Pirates to send the game to penalties.
