Sensational Stephens gives Stellies upper hand as Cape side draws first blood in MTN8 semi-final

Stellenbosch FC's goalkeeper, Sage Stephens, put on a sensational shift at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday night to give his team a slight advantage in the two-legged MTN8 semi-final against favourites Mamelodi Sundowns. 

Stephens' heroics – including denying Arthur Sales and Themba Zwane at the death – ensured that the Cape side beat Sundowns 1-0 to win the first leg of the country's most lucrative knockout competition. 

Fawaz Basadien's second-half penalty gave Stellies an impressive win against a team that's dominated South African football in the last decade.

But the job is not done yet for the club from the Winelands, as they will now host the return leg on Sunday at Moses Mabhida Stadium with a place in the final up for grabs.

The Stellies' keeper stole the show when the spotlight was on Sundowns' goalminder Jody February, who made his first start for Sundowns since joining the club in 2019. 

The former national Under-23 goalkeeper has spent the better of the last four years as a Sundowns' player only in name. 

The Brazilians shipped him back to the Mother City just after signing him from Ajax Cape Town five years ago for a loan at Cape Umoya. 

That was followed by loan stints at Moroka Swallows and AmaZulu to get game time – with the No 1 jersey monopolised by Ronwen Williams and Denis Onyango, while Reyaad Pieterse has been a dependable No 3. 

But Williams' rest and the red card Onyango received against Polokwane City, coupled with a more determined approach from the 28-year-old – saw him given a starting berth against a deadly Stellies attack that had scored 11 goals in their last three matches. 

February saw just how potent Stellies' strike force is when he was called into action just six minutes into the match. He