Golden Arrows eliminated Kaizer Chiefs in the first round of the MTN8 with a 1-0 win at FNB Stadium on Sunday evening.
Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Sekhukhune United booked their place in the semi-finals with wins over Durban City, Polokwane City and AmaZulu respectively in the first three games, all going into extra time.
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And Chiefs were confident to join them in the final four, having started the season with a 3-1 win over Kruger United last week.
Just before the hour mark, Chiefs nearly turned their dominance in possession, and territory in the opposition half into goals.
But Lebo Maboe, Luke Baartman and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo were all guilty of spurning clear-cut chances inside the area after Chiefs – who were showing signs of attacking confidence, were all over the visitors.
While Arrows showed glimpses of their usual technical flair and pace in transitions, last season’s Golden Boot winner Junior Dion was starved of service up front.
The tempo of which Amakhosi played their game made it hard for Pitso Dladla’s troops to find any sort of rhythm, as the looked to contain, rather than to assert themselves against the Glamour Boys.
But for all the superlatives one could use to describe Fernando da Cruz’ side, the went into the break level at 0-0 and it appeared another quarter-final to be contested in extra-time like the other three fixtures this weekend.
Going into the second half, Arrows stunned the home crowd into silence when Khulekani Shezi, against the run of play, opened the scoring with cross-cum-shot, which caught Brandon Petersen off-guard and beat him at the near post.
Chiefs rallied, throwing bodies forward, with Da Cruz bringing on Langelihle Phili on for his debut, while Etiosa Ighodaro also arrived on the hour mark, for Ngcobo and Wandile Duba.
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