Football
Nick Said, Special to ESPN 5y

SuperSport United's remarkable run of cup finals

When SuperSport United line-up in the MTN8 decider against Cape Town City at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday, they will extend an extraordinary run of reaching cup finals.

It will be a 10th knockout final in the last six years, more than any other Premier Soccer League side and two more than second on the list over that period, Orlando Pirates.

For SuperSport it has been a mixed bag of success and failure in looking to lift the trophy, with five wins and four defeats in the nine they have played since May 2012.

KweséESPN looks back at those matches and how the team fared.

2012 NEDBANK CUP FINAL
SuperSport United 2 Mamelodi Sundowns 0
Orlando Stadium, Soweto

Matsatsantsa edged local rivals Sundowns in what was a feather in the cap for then-coach Gavin Hunt, who had recently led the side to three successive league titles, but not enjoyed much knockout success.

Thabo September and Kermit Erasmus bagged the goals for SuperSport, who were worthy winners on the day for what was their third victory in the Nedbank Cup competition at the time.  

Sundowns had Clayton Daniels sent-off after just 19 minutes for a tackle on Erasmus.

2012 MTN8 FINAL
SuperSport United 1 Moroka Swallows 2
Orlando Stadium, Soweto

SuperSport were heavy favourites going into the final and looked to be on their way to victory as Franklin Cale gave them an early lead.

But Swallows, with Zeca Marques in charge, grew into the game and after Georgian midfielder Giorgi Nergadze had levelled the scores, winger Bennett Chenene put The Birds in front.

SuperSport could find no equaliser and a golden opportunity for another trophy was lost.

2013 NEDBANK CUP FINAL
SuperSport United 0 Kaizer Chiefs 1
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban 

This was a hard-fought fixture that proved the last in charge for SuperSport coach Hunt before he jumped ship to BidVest Wits.

Both sides had opportunities, but the final was decided by a super Bernard Parker goal in extra-time as league champions Chiefs, coached by Stuart Baxter, did the 'Double' for the season.

Hunt would go on to reach the final of the Nedbank Cup the following season with Wits, where they lost 3-1 to Orlando Pirates.

2014 TELKOM KNOCKOUT FINAL
SuperSport United 3 Platinum Stars 2
Orlando Stadium, Soweto

Considered one of the great cup finals of recent times, this five-goal thriller had everything, including a penalty-save and an outstanding cup final performance from SuperSport goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

Robert Ng'ambi put Stars head, but Daniels, now with SuperSport, equalised from the penalty spot.

The game went into extra-time and after Daniels had slotted a second penalty, Mogakolodi Ngele equalised a minute later for Stars.

Former Dikwena winger Thuso Phala then added the winning goal, which came shortly after Eleazar Rodgers had missed a penalty for Stars.

SuperSport were led by coach Gordon Igesund, who had only been in charge of the side for a few months.  

2016 NEDBANK CUP FINAL
SuperSport United 3 Orlando Pirates 2
Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane

Another thriller of a final as Luvuyo Memela put Pirates in front with an early goal, but SuperSport raced into a 3-1 halftime lead as Bradley Grobler, Jeremy Brockie and Michael Boxall all scored.

Pirates stepped up a gear in the second half and were given a sniff of success when Clayton Daniels conceded an own goal and SuperSport lost mercurial goalkeeper Williams to injury.

His replacement Baolefa Pule was making his professional debut for the club and had to stand strong in the closing stages as Pirates piled on the pressure in the closing stages.

Baxter was now in charge of SuperSport.       

2016 TELKOM KNOCKOUT FINAL
SuperSport United 1 Cape Town City 2
Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane

Newly-formed Cape Town City produced a shock win in the Telkom Knockout, but were deserved victors on the day in the final as they put on an excellent display.

Aubrey Ngoma put City ahead, before SuperSport equalised via Kingston Nkhatha.

But City would not be denied and Judas Moseamedi claimed a winner to provide disappointment for Baxter and his players.  

2017 NEDBANK CUP FINAL
SuperSport United 4 Orlando Pirates 1
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban

This was a repeat of the previous season's Nedbank Cup decider and again SuperSport came out on top, this time in more emphatic fashion.

Pirates were a club in turmoil and had no answer to a rampant Matsatsantsa, who scored their goals via Grobler (two), Brockie and Nkhatha. Brockie also missed a penalty that could have made the scoreline more emphatic.

Pirates grabbed a late consolation when Oupa Manyisa scored from the penalty-spot after a foul by Aubrey Modiba.  

2017 MTN8 FINAL
SuperSport United 1 Cape Town City 1 (aet; SS won 4-2 on pens)
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban

These two sides also met in the MTN8 final 12 months ago and City dominated the early stages, taking the lead through Sibusiso Masina.

They also missed a number of other opportunities before SuperSport came back into the contest, equalising through Thabo Mnyamane.

Neither side could find a winner in extra-time and the match went to penalties, with SuperSport coming out on top as goalkeeper Williams saved from Lyle Lakay and Moseamedi in the shoot-out.  

2017 CAF CONFEDERATION CUP FINAL
First leg: TP Mazembe 2 SuperSport United 1
Mazembe Stadium, Lubumbashi

Sipho Mbule scored a wonder-goal for SuperSport but it was not enough as two sloppy pieces of defending, including a howler from goalkeeper Williams, gifted a 2-1 lead to DR Congo giants Mazembe.

SuperSport also missed a number of other chances to score and were perhaps the better side on the day.  

Second leg: SuperSport United 0 TP Mazembe 0
Atteridgeville Stadium

Mazembe came to Pretoria to defend their lead and they did that expertly, giving SuperSport barely a sniff at goal.

It was a disappointing display from the home side, who looked a spent force in the face of the organised visitors.

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