The team from Limpopo, coached by the former Bloemfontein Celtic coach, Clinton Larsen, stunned the much more fancied Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 to win the 2024 Carling Knockout Cup final at the Toyota Stadium.

It was a result that few to none expected in what was the first official meeting between the two teams.

It did not start well for Dikwena tsa Meetse as Sundowns scored first in the 36th minute, courtesy of Iqraam Rayners – his fourth goal of the tournament.   Leading 1-0 at the break, it looked like the Tshwane side would add another title to their name.

However, the newly promoted Magesi FC would not back down that easily and Tshepo Kakora equalised three minutes into the second half. The winning goal came in the 87th minute when Delano Abrahams put a corner kick in the back of the net, stunning the mighty Sundowns.

The Brazilians were huge favourites to win the game with ten players who returned from international duty to play.

On their way to the final, Sundowns made easy work of Golden Arrows with a 5-0 victory in the first round. In the quarter-final, Sundowns beat Kaizer Chiefs 4-0 before defeating Marumo Gallants 2-0 in the semi-final to set up a final against Magesi.

‘No time for Sundowns to lick their wounds’

The latter, however, showed grit in defeating tournament Orlando Pirates 3-2, as well as TS Galaxy 1-0 and Richards Bay 1-0 to book their place in the final. For their coach, Laren, is was his second final in more than 20-years of coaching in South Africa, and it was a second title. In 2012 he lead Celtic to the then Telkom Knockout Cup title with a 1-0 win against Sundowns in Durban.

There will be no time for Sundowns to lick their wounds, as they will be back in action on Tuesday evening, hosting AS Maniema Union in a CAF Champions League group stage match. Magesi will take on Chippa United in the Premiership next Saturday.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger cg