A double by Chade Roman (pictured) has secured Vasco da Gama’s spot in the Nedbank Cup provincial final, where Trinitarians await (14:00) on Sunday in Uitsig following a 2-1 win over Sea Point Swifts in Ocean View on Wednesday evening.
Vasco was indeed fired up for this final of the ABC Motsepe League sides and took control from the outset, which allowed Roman to complete his brace in the first half an hour of the match.
To their credit, Swifts clawed their way back to half the deficit in the second half via a Lungisa Meleni goal, but missed chances in the second stanza contributed to Swifts’ demise.
Over the 90 minutes, Vasco, under the mentorship of head coach Andrew Pequeno, was the better team and was worthy winners to progress to their second consecutive provincial final.
Tempers flared up after the match as things got heated with some verbal confrontation and scuffles, but it was nothing that couldn’t be contained.
Meanwhile, Pequeno has warned that Trinnies, who have shown to be a cup team of late, will be a tough nut to crack on their Uitsig home ground.
“Yes, they are very good in one-off games,” Pequeno pointed out to No Bones with Jones. “The no under -rule will make them even harder to beat, plus the home support will also add to the occasion,” Pequeno stated.
Pequeno is now gearing up for his third provincial final and eyeing a second consecutive Nedbank Cup title after they beat the winners of the Third Division, Greenwood Athletic, last season to qualify for the tournament proper at the last 32 stage.
He also lost to Santos on a previous occasion while in charge of Hanover Park FC.
