The Pretoria side dominated throughout and second-half goals by Thabang Mahlangu and Itumeleng Mogotsi buried Pukke’s hopes of a top four finish.
The semifinals will see TUT play UP-Tuks in Pretoria and UWC facing Wits in Cape Town.
It was a nervy start by both teams in wet and chilly conditions. With so much at stake, both teams were not prepared to push too many of their players forward.
It was the side from Pretoria who were the first to stamp their authority on the game when Selby Madibana found himself in space from a Thabang Motau cross, but he was deemed to be offside.
TUT continued putting pressure on Pukke in the opening 15 minutes and captain Elliot Seema had a brilliant chance to find the opener, but his header went well wide. Not long after Themba Ndlovu had a great shot saved by the Pukke keeper.
Pukke were pegged in their own half for much of the first 45 minutes and this allowed TUT to create chance after chance. Motau almost found the breakthrough in the 24th minute after his side-foot shot went just wide of the Pukke goal.
TUT looked the best bet to find the game’s first goal, however, their control in the final third continued to let them down. An example of this was when Mogotsi’s shot went well over the Pukke goal in the 34th minute.
It seemed the home side grew in confidence towards the end of the first half and they dominated possession in that final ten minutes before half-time. However, the half end goalless with no team able to get the crucial opening score.
Pukke had a change of tactics in the second half with Kagiso Pitso replacing Smangaliso Radebe and Thabo Mokhele coming on for Evan Stegen. The changes did not concern the away team as the continued to look the more dangerous team.
After Mogotsi hit the upright after rounding the keeper, Mahlangu opened the scoring from the corner that soon followed with a great header.
That goal meant Pukke had to push more players forward and this allowed TUT more space on the counter.
A second goal was seemingly inevitable and it was Mogotsi who got it after a well-timed pass by Motau in the 65th minute. Patrick Lebitsa had a great chance to get one back for his team in the 82nd minute, but his shot was well saved by King Ndlovu.
Samsung Super Striker: Itumeleng Mogotsi
FNB Man of the Match: Thabang Motau
Scorers: Thabang Mahlangu, Itumeleng Mogotsi
Yellow cards: Falakhe Ponoshe (NWU-Pukke). Kagiso Pitso (NWU-Pukke), Masonwabe Sokanyile (TUT)
NWU-Pukke: 32 Mojalefa Magabe, 23 Kutloano Nkwe, 20 Tebogo Monyebodi, 17 Evan Stegen, Tumelo Mosimane, 14 Smangaliso Radebe, 10 Thabang Matlhoko, 8 Gontse Pitso, 5 Bonginkosi Mnyamane, 3 Falakhe Ponoshe, 11 Patrick Lebitsa.
Substitutes: 1 Johannes le Grange, 6 Dumisani Nhlapo, 7 Kagiso Pitso, 13 Mosa Matshego, 12 Katlego Sephakwe, 22 Johannes Mogorosi, 17 Thabo Mokhele.
TUT: 1 King Ndlovu , 9 Themba Ndlovu, 3 Khomotso Ledwaba, 2 Thabang Masiteng, 15 Phineas Raphela, 5 Elliot Seema (captain), 13 Thabang Mahlangu, 7 Selby Madibana, 10 Itumeleng Mogotsi, 12 Masonwabe Sokanyile, 17 Thabang Motau.
Substitutes: 12 Tshepo Simelane, 19 Lebogang Phatlane, 4 Rorisang Rapelang, 8 Thato Santos, 18 Mogau Mphahlele, 20 Lloyd Morulane, 23 Sidney Seromo.