South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns retained the Hage Geingob Cup after beating Tigers 4-2 in an entertaining final match at the Independence Stadium on Sunday evening to take the cup for the third-year running.
According to NFA.com website The two sides produced some reverting football early on and the goal duly came on seven minutes as Anthony Laffour replacement Ntando Ngubane, improvised to hit home a volley from inside the box after Tigers failed to deal with a Teko Modise shot in.
But the MTC Premiership champions Tigers were not to be outdone and produced some magic and deservedly got their equalizer through Llewelyn Stanley who latched onto a great through-ball from captain Absalom Iimbondi, to beat Sundowns keeper Denis Onyango with a fine shot from the edge of the box.
Sundowns then made 10 more changes before the break and substitute Mlompo Kekana scored from a free kick moments later.
Brain Isaacs’ Tigers again dug deep and substitute striker Mapenzi Muwanei who volleyed home on 35 minutes, thanks to yet again some breathtaking play from Iimbondi.
Another Sundowns substitute Tsepo Ntlaba Sundowns found the net to put his side in the lead and it was then put out of Tigers reach later when Leonardo Castro stabbed home a cross just before halftime.
Earlier in the day, in the play-off match for third place African Stars beat South Africa’s Orlando Pirates 8-7 on penalties after a goalless 90 minutes.
There was not much to with home about the encounter with the highlight being the sending off of Pirates’ Thembela Sikhakhane for a second yellow-card booking, while Pirates coach Mushin Ertugral was also red-carded after a verbal altercation with the referee with few minutes left before the end of the game.
The match went into penalties and Stars finally prevailed 8-7 when their keeper Lloyd Kazapua scored and then saved Luvuyo Memela’s second kick of the shoot-out each side kicked 10 penalties.
The two-day pre-season tournament saw 11 goals scored from four matches in celebration of Namibia’s President’s 75th birthday.