Stellenbosch FC advanced to the final of the 2023 Carling Knockout competition after recording a resounding 3-0 semi-final victory over Richard Bay in Umlazi.

Steve Barker’s side have progressed to a first-ever cup final after recording a 3-0 Carling Knockout last-four victory over Richards Bay at the King Zwelithini Stadium, courtesy of second-half goals from Devin Titus, Anicet Oura, and Antonio van Wyk.

After a cagey first-half affair, which ended goalless, the match sprung to life at the start of the second stanza when Sage Stephens, Iqraam Rayners, and the aforementioned Titus combined to open the scoring for the side from the Cape Winelands.

With the wind at his back, goalkeeper Stephens picked out Man of the Match Rayners with a long ball over the top of the Richards Bay defence and the striker tried to lob Philasande Manqele after spotting the ‘keeper slightly off his goalline.

Manqele was ultimately unable to bring the ball under his control and Titus, who previously scored in the quarter-final win over Polokwane City, reacted quickest to fire Stellies into the lead with a first-time tap-in.

That advantage was doubled in the 69th minute when Oura scored his second goal of the season, bundling the ball home from a set-piece training drill after centre-back Thabo Moloisane flicked it into his path from a corner.

More was to follow from the Stellies front-line at the death when substitute Van Wyk put the game to bed with the best goal of the day, mazing through the opposition defence before curling a right-footed effort beyond the outstretched palms of Manqele.

The 21-year-old’s effort was the cherry on top of an otherwise superb performance from the Maroons, who will face the winner from Sunday’s other semi-final between TS Galaxy and AmaZulu in the showpiece final at Moses Mabhida Stadium on 16 December.