26.04.2015 20:45 h

Drama as Sundowns, Ajax Cape Town reach final

A sensational goal and a stunning comeback took Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town to the South African FA Cup final.

Mzikayise Mashaba unleashed an unstoppable long-range shot to give Sundowns a 1-0 victory over second-tier Vasco de Gama near Pretoria.

And Ajax scored five minutes from time and again in stoppage time to stun SuperSport United 2-1 in the other semi-final in Cape Town.

Eastern Cape city Port Elizabeth will host the May 16 final with a $500,000 (460,000 euros) winners' cheque and a CAF Confederation Cup place up for grabs.

The match-up is a repeat of the 2007 final won 2-0 by Ajax.

That was the last final appearance by the Cape Town club while Sundowns lifted the trophy the following year and finished runners-up three seasons ago.

Sundowns, reeling from a league slump that saw them surrender the title to Kaizer Chiefs last Wednesday, were lucky to be level with Vasco by half-time at Lucas 'Masterpieces' Moripe Stadium.

The Cape Town-based semi-professionals and part-timers comfortably contained some of the highest paid footballers in South Africa while wasting several chances to snatch the lead.

But the cup tie turned on a moment of magic from Mashaba, who controlled a Hlompho Kekana square pass before giving goalkeeper Steven Hoffman no chance with a thunderbolt.

League Cup title-holders SuperSport looked set for a second cup final appearance in one season after taking a first-half lead through Thuso Phala at a vibrant Athlone Stadium.

The visitors squandered chances to increase their advantage before Mosa Lebusa levelled on 85 minutes with a close-range shot across goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

Substitute Tashreeq Morris became the toast of Cape Town football three minutes into additional time as he rose to nod in a Nazeer Allie cross after sloppy SuperSport defending.