Johannesburg - Two late injury-time goals from Sifiso Vilakazi saw BidVest Wits romp to a stunning 3-0 win over AmaZulu in the Nedbank Cup final at the official opening of the new state of the art Soccer City on Saturday.
Wits made South African soccer history by becoming the first team in the country to play and win at the new multi-billion rand stadium.
Saturday’s victory was an amazing turn around for Wits and head coach Roger de Sa who were fighting a rear guard action at the end of the PSL Premiership season to avoid relegation.
Saturday’s win earned De Sa and his players a cool R6-million while Usuthu went back to Durban R2.5-million richer but still trophyless after 18 long hard years. It was De Sa’s first silverware as a coach.
And it was a Brazilian, Fabricio Rodrigues, who scored the first goal at the new stadium, which will be the future home of South African soccer.
Man of the Match deservedly went to hard running Wits midfielder Michael Morton who is on loan from Orlando Pirates. Morton has blossomed under De Sa and is a future Bafana Bafana star in the making.
It was the first trophy won by the Clever Boys since they triumphed in the BP Top Eight and Coca-Cola cups in 1995.
The 71 956 (official attendance) fans rocked and rolled inside the new stadium and played their part in celebrating the opening of this incredible soccer cathedral by creating a tremendous festive atmosphere.
The one person who went home with a huge smile on his face was Bafana head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira whose side will battle it out here on June 11in the opening World Cup Group A match against Mexico.
Parreira will want the same fans to pack the magnificent stadium and create an intimidating atmosphere for the Mexicans.
Both sides added to the spectacle by playing their hearts out on a bowling green pitch, which was in mint condition. The final brought down the curtain on a tough PSL season which was congested due to next month’s World Cup finals.
The game was delayed by 30 minutes due to traffic chaos outside the stadium. The problem was caused because the Soccer City surrounding area and parking areas were used as a park and ride for supporters going to the Super 14 rugby semifinal between the Blue Bulls and the Crusaders which was played down the road at Soweto’s Orlando Stadium.
Wits were the better side in a tense first half. The Students created more chances and took the initiative.
AmaZulu goalkeeper Nicolas Gindre was called into action for the first time in the eighth minute when he did well to save a dangerous Sipho Mngomezulu header from a Marawaan Bantam free kick.
The Clever Boys kept up a relentless pressure and came close to getting the breakthrough in the 18th minute when Mark Haskins latched onto a good through ball from the industrious Mngomezulu but tried to chip Gindre and as a result the Usuthu keeper had an easy job of pouching Haskins' powder puff effort.
The shot of the half came from a 20-metre rocket from Tsweu Mokoro in the 32nd minute that flew centimetres past the Wits upright.
A minute later Mngomezulu tried his luck from long range and his shot also missed the target.
A desperate clearance thwarted Vilakazi from scoring in the 36th minute after he got on the end of a terrific cross form Shakes Tshbangu.
Mngomezulu's midfield teammate Morton put in a solid shift in the heart of the Wits midfield that earned his Man of the Match award.
Usuthu came out with more purpose in the second half and long throw-ins from Sphiwe Mkhonza troubled the Students defence.
Ayanda Dlamini fluffed a chance to put Usuthu into the lead in the 58th minute, and 10 minutes later Wits keeper Francis Chansa turned away a throw-in from Mkhonza but injured himself in the process. He should have left the ball, as the rules state a goal cannot be scored direct from a throw-in.
Super sub Rodrigues, who replaced Bantam at the half-time break, had an easy tap in after a cross from Mngomezulu in the 76th minute to put Wits 1-0 ahead, and had the Students celebrating.
Then Gindre pulled off a super save from Tshabangu on 82 minutes before two injury-time goals from Vilakazi sent Wits into wild celebrations.