Peter Shalulile

The 2021/22 DStv Premiership season has reached its halfway mark and the race is on for bragging rights as Mzansi’s top goal scorer. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

MTN8 semi-final match report | Classy Sundowns blunt Arrows – 28 September

Mamelodi Sundowns booked their place in the final of the MTN8 with an easy 3-0 win over Golden Arrows in a match played at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Tuesday.

Peter Shalulile

The 2021/22 DStv Premiership season has reached its halfway mark and the race is on for bragging rights as Mzansi’s top goal scorer. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Mamelodi Sundowns booked their place in the final of the MTN8 with an easy 3-0 win over Golden Arrows in a match played at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Tuesday.

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Sundowns opened the scoring inside the opening five minutes as Peter Shalulile capitalized from a spill by Arrows goalkeeper Sifiso Mlungwana.

Arrows didn’t lose their calm after the early setback as they charged forward and tested Reyaad Pieterse from outside the box.

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Thabiso Kutumela then came close to doubling Sundowns’ lead after some good combination play with Themba Zwane in the 10th minute.

However, Mlungwana went down to his right-hand side to make a fine save and keep Arrows in the game.

At the time, Sundowns were 2-1 up on aggregate and they looked more likely to score than the visitors.

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Sundowns possibly put the game beyond Arrows’ reach as Divine Lunga, a former Abafana Bes’thende man, headed past Mlungwana to make it 2-0 on the night after 29 minutes.

And that goal took Sundowns’ lead to 3-1 up on aggregate, and this meant Arrows needed to score at least three goals to win the tie.

It was always going to be a mountain to climb for any team facing Sundowns.

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Kutumela hit the upright on the stroke of half-time after a great ball was played into the Arrows box.

Sundowns started the second half the way they ended the first as they dominated proceedings immediately after the restart.

With just over 20 minutes to go, Lunga was stretchered off the pitch with a suspected head injury, and his place was taken by Aubrey Modiba.

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The final 20 minutes didn’t produce any clear-cut goalscoring chances until Neo Maema produced a moment of brilliance deep into stoppage time.

Maema beat Mthokozisi Dube outside the Arrows box after some good footwork before curling the ball past Mlungwana to make it 3-0 to Sundowns on the night.

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In the end, Sundowns made it through to the final with a 4-1 aggregate win over Arrows, and they will face either Swallows FC or Cape Town City.

STARTING LINEUPS

Mamelodi Sundowns XI: Pieterse, Lunga, G. Kekana, De Reuck, Lakay, Jali, Domingo, Kutumela, Zwane, Shalulile, Safranko.

Subs: Goss, Maluleka, Modiba, B. Onyango, Mkhulise, Sirino, Maema, Erasmus, Vilakazi.

Golden Arrows XI: Mlungwana, Sibisi, Zuke, Mantshiyane, M.Dube, Dlamini, Ndwandwe, Mmodi, Sibiya, Mutizwa, Gumede

Subs: Mbaeva, Mathiane, Ndlovu, Magawana, Khumalo, Magubane, Cele, Nkosi, Mbhele.