Durban U19 final pits SA U19 against Arsenal
The final of the Durban Under 19 International Football Tournament between defending champions Arsenal FC and SA Under19 national Team will take place at King Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday, 06 August 2016.
The teams advanced to the final after both won their semi-final matches at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Thursday, 4 August 2016.
The English side eliminated TP Mazembe from Congo DRC, while SA U19 edged past Sporting Lisbon.
The two teams will now meet at Saturday’s championship decider, which is scheduled to kick-off at 14:45.
Ahead of that, losing semi-finalists TP Mazembe and Sporting Lisbon will battle it out for the bronze medal at the same venue at 12h30.
Arsenal won their place in the final after a tense 90-minute match that ended with a 3-0 result.
It was an epic battle between giants who tried their best in the match to find the back of the net and the 2015 victors that got a first half lead when their jersey number 10 Malen, scored a tremendous goal in the 24th minute. Team mate Nkhetiah followed up with a magnificent 2nd goal and the clincher came in what was an unexpected penalty kick goal when Mavididi scored in the 83rd minute.
The SA U19 match against Sporting Lisbon was perhaps the toughest game of the tournament with both teams defending their right to advance to the finals with all they had. Numerous chances at goal scoring occurred and finally in the 62nd minute the first goal of the match was scored by SA Under 19 forward Kodisang. Other goals were scored by Mayo and Kodisang.
Speaking from the Moses Mabhida stadium, Bafana Bafana Head Coach Shakes Mashaba said “Congratulations to the Boys who’ve made it to the final of the tournament. The match was not what we expected as we started at a very low key, we should’ve scored in the first half, however we’re closing the gap in the world of football. I think that the only constant thing is change and initiatives such as the Durban U19tournament speak to that. I am greatly looking forward to the final”
Fixtures – 06 August 2016 –King Zwelithini Stadium, Umlazi
3rd and 4th Place Play-Offs12h30 Sporting Lisbon vs. TP Mazembe
Final14h45 Arsenal vs. National U19