Carter High secured the Jody Momplé FA Cup for a second time, saving their best game for last, as they outplayed Edendale Technical High 4-0 in the final on Sunday at Hilton College.
Previously, Carter High won the title in 2014. They lost in the 2023 final to Maritzburg College.
With barely 30 minutes separating the end of Edendale’s penalty shootout win over ML Sultan in the semifinals and the start of the title game, the players on both sides were under extreme physical pressure.
Even though they were playing their third match of the day, Carter tackled the task with relish, playing with a fierce intensity that Edendale was unable to match.
Props to Edendale, though. They were a late replacement for Ixopo High, and they did themselves proud. Many would have considered them the favourites to win the final, but Carter rose to the occasion.
The title decider mirrored their June meeting in the final of the KwaZulu-Natal High Schools Football (KZNHSFA) Inland A-League, which Edendale won for the first time. On Sunday, though, it was Carter High’s day.
They shook Edendale by taking a 2-0 lead into the halftime break. Still, Edendale knew they stood a chance if they could score early in the second half.
Instead, Carter struck early, scoring two more goals in quick succession. There was no coming back from that four-goal deficit.
Carter’s charge to the title was led by Amukelwa Khuzwayo, who comfortably eclipsed former South African international Bryce Moon‘s record of eight goals in the tournament by netting a remarkable 11 times.
That feat ensured Khuzwayo received the Golden Boot and, not surprisingly, the Player of the Tournament.
At the opposite end of the field, Carter’s goalkeeper Inhle Meyiwa received the Golden Glove for posting the most clean sheets.
In the lead-up to the final, Carter High took on one of their main rivals, Maritzburg College, who fielded a young team. Carter won comfortably, booking their place in the final with a 3-0 win over the Red, Black, and White team.
In the other semifinal, neither Edendale nor ML Sultan was able to breach their opponent’s defence, and the contest went to a penalty shootout, with Edendale winning 4-2 from the spot.
Maritzburg College had defeated Alexandra High 3-1 in the quarterfinals, while Edendale withstood a strong challenge from Hilton College.
The hosts rattled the frame of Edendale’s goals with a free kick and broke through the visitors’ defence, only for a lob over the goalkeeper to pass narrowly wide of the mark.
They were then made to pay as Edendale hit them on the counterattack, scoring the all-important only goal of the game.
Carter High dominated Umvuzo, advancing to the final with a 4-1 win, and ML Sultan held off St Charles College 3-2 in an entertaining clash.
It was a fantastic day for Treverton College, who started it off by beating Michaelhouse in the quarterfinals of the Plate, winning 5-4 in a penalty shootout after they had shared a 1-1 draw.
They also won their semifinal from the spot, drawing 1-1 with Newton before taking a spot-kick 4-2 victory.
Then, in the Plate final, they again drew 1-1, this time with Haythorne Secondary.
Once more, goalkeeper Jon van Coller, who is in Grade 10, was the difference-maker.
Make no mistake, Treverton, as a team, produced three strong performances, but without Van Coller’s heroics, they would not have lifted the Plate.
St Nicholas Diocesan School conceded 10 goals on Saturday in their pool matches. On Sunday, they showed admirable fighting spirit, bouncing back to win three times.
They beat Linpark 1-0, Greytown 2-1, and then repeated that score in the Bowl final, defeating Kokstad.
Results
Bowl Competition
Quarterfinals
Howick 4-0 Grace
Kokstad 2-0 Weston
St Nicholas 1-0 Linpark
Greytown 3-1 Wartburg
Semifinals
Kokstad 1-0 Howick
St Nicholas 2-1 Greytown
Final
St Nicholas 2-1 Kokstad
Plate Competition
Quarterfinals
Rivewood 2-0 Etham
Haythorne 3-1 Nomaswazi
Newton 3-0 MCS
Treveton (5) 1-1 (4) Michaelhouse
Semifinals
Haythorne 3-1 Riverwood
Treverton (4) 1-1 (2) Newton
Final
Treverton (4) 1-1 (3) Haythorne
Cup Competition
Quarterfinals
Edendale 1-0 Hilton College
ML Sultan 3-2 St Charles
Maritzburg College 3-1 Alex
Carter 4-1 Umvuzo
Semifinals
Edendale (4) 0-0 (2) ML Sultan
Carter 3-0 Maritzburg College
Final
Carter 4-0 Edendale
