Golden Arrows stunned Mamelodi Sundowns with a first leg away victory in their MTN8 semi-final on Sunday afternoon at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium.
In a game that was stop-start with a couple of injuries in the blazing heat of Atteridgeville, Sundowns, who dominated possesion and the most clear-cut chances, found themselves behind at the break 1-0.
Junior Dion with his first chance of the game, slotting home past an on-rushing Ricardo Goss who was making his first start for the club since 2022 – after several loan moves in recent seasons.
The Ivorian rushed onto a in-perfect through ball from Khulekani Shezi in a clinical counter attack that eliminated Keagan Johannes, Malibongwe Khoza and Goss.
But it could have been a different story had Lebo Mothiba found the net early on into the game, when he was one v one with Eduard Maova, but the Namibia international managed to keep it out, but suffered a match-ending injury.
He was stretchered off for Thakasani Mbanjwa after just 17 minutes into the game which proved a major blow for Pitso Dlalda’s side.
However the managed to compose themselves and show that structure defensively, that saw them eliminated Kaizer Chiefs in the quarter-finals.
Early in the second half Nhlanhla Gasa nearly made it 2-0 but his long-range effort went just over Goss’ cross bar, to the relief of the home suppoters.
Miguel Cardoso made several changes early on with Lebo Mothiba and Bennet Mokoena replaced for Brayan Leon and Tashreeq Matthews at half-time, while Cassius Mailula and Bathusi Aubaas made way for Nuno Santos and Sphelele Mkhulise.
Mbanjwa made another exceptional save 20 minutes before time, when Johannes met Thapelo Morena’s pin-point corner perfectly but his header that looked destined to find the top corner was palmed away.
Arrows silenced the home crowd, held firm in the final stages and managed to take home a vital away goal into the second leg next week in KwaZulu-Natal.
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