TS Galaxy makes AmaZulu see stars, reach Carling Knockout final

DURBAN. – TS Galaxy and AmaZulu took the Carling Knockout's motto to life – bringing on the electricity in an entertaining five-goal thriller that ended with Usuthu having their lights knocked out because they were not switched on in the first 30 minutes. 

The Rockets won a thrilling semi-final 3-2 to book a spot in the final against Stellenboch FC. Junior Dion and Augustine Kwem tried to bring Usuthu back into the contest with their late goals in the second half – but Galaxy did most of the damage in the first half. 

Eighty-two seconds into the match, Galaxy were already ahead thanks to the fast Lehlohonolo Mojela. Just before the half-hour mark, Mojela won the visitors a penalty that was converted by Higor Vidal, showing Galaxy's intentions. 

As if to fire Usuthu up at halftime, the DJ played eMgungundlovu as the teams walked off. The song is about the greatest victory of the amaZulu nation, the Battle of Isandlwana. Under the command of Ntshingwayo kaMahole, the Zulu army soundly defeated British forces who had state-of-the-art arms while they were only fighting with spears and homemade weapons. 

With AmaZulu 2-0 down, with an uninspiring performance in the first half and Fiacre Ntwari brilliant in goals for the visitors – Usuthu needed to summon the spirit of the Battle of Isandlwana to turn the huge odds against them into their favour. 

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Their coach Pablo Franco – who was nicknamed Cijimpi by the club owners, a moniker that belongs to people who sharpen Zulu warriors – brought three soldiers at the start of the second half – Kwem, Tshepang Moremi and Taariq Fielies. 

Two of those soldiers combined when AmaZulu scored to