Mamelodi Sundowns secured their place in the MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates after edging Golden Arrows on the away-goals advantage following a 3-3 aggregate draw.
Abafana Bes’thende headed into the second leg with a 1-0 victory from the first meeting, while Sundowns claimed a 2-1 away win in the return fixture.
It was a high-intensity opening as both teams came out knowing that the match would determine the second finalist. Both sides showed attacking intent early on, creating opportunities in search of the opening goal.
Sundowns had a golden chance in the eighth minute when Cassius Mailula found space inside the box. His delayed effort, however, allowed the Arrows defence to recover and clear the danger.
The visitors then began to dominate possession, while Arrows looked to exploit their pace on the counter whenever they won the ball. Abafana Bes’thende also became increasingly compact as the half progressed, making it difficult for Sundowns to find openings.
The pressure eventually paid off in the 31st minute when Mailula broke the deadlock with a composed finish following an excellent build-up, with Marcelo Allende supplying the assist.
Sundowns continued to push for a second, but Arrows remained organised, while goalkeeper Thakasani Mbanjwa made a number of key saves. The visitors held a 1-0 lead at the interval.
Sundowns continued where they had left off after the interval, enjoying the lion’s share of possession as they looked to add to their advantage. They appeared to have found the second goal, but the referee ruled against them after deciding that Khulumani Ndamane had handled the ball.
Masandawana maintained the pressure, attacking repeatedly, but Arrows’ defence remained stubborn and difficult to break down.
Abafana Bes’thende had a chance to equalise in the 63rd minute when Ronaldo Van Neel picked out Nhlanhla Gasa inside the box. Gasa, however, sent his effort high over the crossbar.
Arrows did not have to wait much longer for the leveller. In the 70th minute, Junior Dion finished from close range after another assist from Van Neel, bringing the score to 1-1.
After a few minutes, the Tshwane giants came back again and found the back of the net via Marcelo Allende, giving the away side an advantage. Moments later, the Sundowns substitute Antonio Van Wyk wrapped it up for Sundowns, beating Mbatha with a thing of beauty from outside the box.
Thereafter, Arrows had a mountain to climb as they needed two goals to win the game. They scored one goal through Philani Khumalo but it wasn’t enough for them to go through with Sundowns advancing to the next round.
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