Mfundo Vilakazi and Ashley du Preez guided the All-Stars to the Carling Cup crown after defeating Stellenbosch FC on Saturday afternoon.
Veteran Itumeleng Khune captained All Stars, who featured Ashley Du Preez, rising star Mfundo Vilakazi, Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo too, as the Maroons installed Antonio Van Wyk, Iqraam Rayners, Fawaaz Basadien and Andre De Jong particularly.
An electrifying start led the Maroons in seconds after kickoff and an outstretched save from Khune was needed to thwart Van Wyk at the near post.
There were more drama three minutes in as All Stars hit the front when Vilakazi’s looping free-kick bounced off the ground and off Sage Stephens to pick out the bottom-corner.
Khune was at full stretch again in a lively opening with the sides at each other’s throats and thwarted a flying shot from a clever angle by De Jong.
All Stars grabbed a second when Du Preez fired in from the penalty spot after managing to draw a foul from Thabo Moloisane to win in the spot-kick.
Moloisane did go close to making up for his error before the half-hour mark when he poked in a loose ball from close-range as Khune spilled De Jong’s glancing header, but the goal was disallowed by the referee.
The All Stars weren’t keen to lose ground though Stellies nearly got one back when Khune conceded possession in a dangerous area to Rayners, who curled first-time only to struck the post.
Coach Jose Riveiro showed attention to the dugout over ten minutes from the break and decided to throw Thembinkosi Lorch in ahead of Victor Letsoalo.
Stellies were down to ten-men 20 minutes in the second half when Athenkosi Mcaba went in hard on youngster Jabu Mokone and was send into the tunnel.
Khune was called to work again ten minutes later and pushed across his near post to guide Basadien’s powerful free-kick behind for a corner.
Stellenbosch got one back in added time when substitute Mervin Boij arrived unmarked in the box and tapped in a cutback, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation as the All Stars held on for the win.
Confirmed line-ups:
Stellenbosch: Stephens, Mcaba, Basadien, Van Rooyen, Nduli, Moloisane, Mgaga, De Jong, Van Wyk, Titus, Rayners
Subs: Langeveldt, Jurgens, Sibande, De Kock, Matsheke, Sekgota, Palace, Mini, Boji, Masuluke
Carling All-Stars: Khune, Ngidi, Ndah, Mphahlelele, Mokone, Vilakazi, Castillo, Zikhali, Mnguni, Erasmus, Du Preez
Subs: Monyepao, Chaine, Madiba, Ngcobo, Mako, Frosler, Ndlondlo, Mabaso, Lorch, Shabalala, Letsoalo, Mkhwawana
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