Report: Sundowns sink Arrows to clinch TKO final berth

Mamelodi Sundowns secured the TKO final spot after thrashing Golden Arrows in an action packed thriller that produced six yellow cards and a red card.

Read: Pitso backs referee for handing a RED card!

Attacker Gaston Sirino had an eventful day filled with mixed emotions as he scored Sundowns the winning goal while later on collecting a red card.

Coach Pitso Mosimane made two changes from their previous encounter with Arrows bringing in Sirino, who just returned from an injury while gave skipper Hlompho Kekana a start.

Image result for mamelodi sundowns vs golden arrows tko
Mamelodi Sundowns players celebrating their victory (Image: IOL)

First Half

In the opening half, The Brazilians had the possession getting their opening goal 11 minutes into the game after Kekana headed home courtesy of Lyle Lakay’s set-piece.

Things got headed for Steve Kompela’s troops finding their rhythm around the half-hour mark with PSL top goal scorer Knox Mutizwa missing out on chances to equalize.

Arrows’ miseries continued when they were punished nine minutes before the first half broke as Sirino pounced a goal at the far post to give Masandawana a two-goal lead.

The pace slowed down just before the end of the first stanza however the Brazilians missed out on making it three after Lakay went clear on goal inside the box but his efforts went wide.

Image result for mamelodi sundowns vs golden arrows tko
Mamwlodi Sundowns fans ecstatic for their victory (Image: Premier Soccer League)

Second half

The second stanza started slow with Kompela making two changes bringing in Nduzuzo Sibiya for Seth Parusnath while Michael Gumede came in for Lindokuhle Mtshali to add numbers in attack.

Gumude waa indeed a good choice to field having a great chance to pull a goal after going inside the box however goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene made a crucial save.

Sibiya went straight in five minutes later to give Abafana Bes’thende their first consolidation goal after Mutizwa’s cross, although replays suggested that Knox was offside when he got the ball.

Image result for mamelodi sundowns vs golden arrows tko
Coach Pitso Mosimane (Image: Goal)

The Pretoria-based club were in hot waters with referee Victor Gomez in the last six minutes as they were ruduced to 10 men after the Uruguyan attacker Sirino was handed a straight up red card for a late tackle on Mathiane.

The host came to close to equalizing through Danny Phiri however the visitors survived the last minute equalizer to secure their Telkom Knockout final spot where they will meet the winner of the Chiefs and Maritzburg.

Starting XI:

Arrows: 30. Sibanda, 14. S.Dube, 29. Sibisi, 20. Mathiane, 2. Nkombelo, 26. Phiri, 16. Parusnath, 5. Shitolo, 15. Makhubela, 35. Mtshali, 18. Mutizwa.

Subs: 32. N.Gumede, 28. Bilankulu, 23. L.Dube, 13. Lunga, 4. Venter, 33. M.Gumede, 11. Sibiya.

Sundowns: 14. Onyango, 4. Langerman, 7. Lakay, 2. Madisha, 15. Jali, 8. Kekana, 2. Lebusa, 27. Morena, 21. Mkhulise, 26. Sirino, 9. Affonso

Subs: 1. Mweene, 23. Meza, 40. Coetzee, 16. Ngcongca, 33. Maboe, 13. Mabunda, 25. Ngoma.