JOHANNESBURG – Gauteng were crowned champions of the 2016 SAFA/Burger King Under-19 Men’s Championship after they demolished the much-fancied Santos 3-0 in the final on Sunday at Phillipi Stadium in Cape Town.

Two quick goals in the first half and another late in the second half were enough to give Gauteng victory.

The first came in the 12th minute when a blocked shot ricocheted into an empty net, with the second coming just a minute later through Tshiamo Mokoena.

However much the home team tried, they found a solid Gauteng team at the back.

The second half was more open with Santos looking to get a goal, while Gauteng wanted to increase their lead.

It was the visitors who triumphed as they sealed the match in the 52nd minute with a neatly-worked goal that ended with Molahlehi Khunyedi finding the back of the net.

The result means Gauteng becomes the second side to win the Under-19 Men’s Championship.

The first edition was won by Supersport United in 2014 when they defeated Ajax Cape Town in Bloemfontein.

Cape Town City claimed bronze in the 3rd/4th place play-off played earlier at the Phillipi Stadium.

They defeated Mpumalanga 4-1 with goals from Litha Dakuse and Buzwe Bam coming in the 7th and 8th minute.

Mpumalanga pulled one back in the 55th minute through Uyanda Mbaziza – to be top-joint goalscorer with Duncan Adonis of City, but the latter ensured he finished top of the charts with his sixth goal of the tournament in the 64th minute.

The final nail in the coffin came on the stroke of full-time (70th) through Brett Veale.

A total of 63 goals were scored after 22 matches.

In the individual awards, Gauteng almost made a clean sweep.

Simphiwe Ncamane of Gauteng was crowned King (Player) of the Tournament; Duncan Adonis finished as the Top Goal Scorer with six goals; Tshiamo Mokoena of Gauteng walked away with the Whopper of a Goal award; Given Mthombeni of Gauteng was chosen Goalkeeper of the Tournament while Bambiso Maxixole was named Referee of the Tournament.

– African News Agency

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