Iqraam Rayners said before the game that once Sundowns scored first, it would open up. Finding that goal took 68 minutes, and in the end one was all they needed.
The Sundowns v Golden Arrows result: Mamelodi Sundowns 1, Golden Arrows 0, in the knockout cup quarter-final at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday night, after a goalless first half. SoccerMag, iDiski Times, Afrik-Foot and Pan Africa Football all reported the 1-0 once the final whistle had gone. Sundowns are the first club into the semi-finals.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Result | Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 Golden Arrows |
| Half-time | 0-0 |
| Goal | Iqraam Rayners 68′, from Antonio van Wyk |
| Venue | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| Kick-off | 19:00 |
| Competition | Knockout cup, quarter-final |
A changed side and a patient first half
With the CAF Super Cup against USM Alger to come on Sunday, Miguel Cardoso rotated heavily, iDiski Times reports. Mothobi Mvala, Sphelele Mkhulise, Antonio van Wyk and Arthur Sales all started. Thabang Matuludi, who headed two goals against Durban City on Saturday, began on the bench alongside Marcelo Allende, Aubrey Modiba and Cassius Mailula, according to the team sheet Afrik-Foot published before kick-off. Ricardo Goss kept goal.
The changes did not stop Sundowns from pressing. Afrik-Foot says Siyanda Ndlovu, Van Wyk and Rayners all had chances in the first half hour, kept out by good goalkeeping and loose finishing. SoccerMag reports that Ndlovu beat his marker and struck the crossbar after 14 minutes. Just before the break, Arrows goalkeeper Dumisani Msibi saved a Mvala header, Afrik-Foot adds, and the sides went in level.
Sundowns v Golden Arrows result: the touch that settled it
Msibi was busy again after the restart. Pan Africa Football and Afrik-Foot both have him saving from Rayners around ten minutes into the second half, a chance that Pan Africa Football says came from an Arrows defensive error.
The pressure told midway through the half. Afrik-Foot reports that Mvala had a header cleared off the line, and a minute later the ball was in the net. Van Wyk drove it into the box and Rayners got his head to it, a goal Pan Africa Football and iDiski Times both time at 68 minutes. iDiski Times describes Van Wyk’s delivery as a fierce shot that Rayners guided past Msibi; Pan Africa Football calls it a cross. Either way, the touch was Rayners’, and it was the only one that counted.
Arrows had no answer after that, and Sundowns saw the game out.
Why it matters
For Mamelodi Sundowns, it is a third straight win since they went out of the CAF Champions League against Wiliete. The run started with a 1-0 win over Marumo Gallants in the last 16 and continued with the 4-1 in Rustenburg that put them back on top of the league. Having already won the MTN8 in October, they are now one round from another domestic final.
For Golden Arrows, the night ends a cup run that started with a 4-0 win over Chippa United in the last 16, two days after Mandla Ncikazi’s return as coach was announced. It is a second 1-0 defeat since Saturday, when they lost at AmaZulu in the league. Sede Junior Dion, who scored in all three of this season’s earlier meetings between the sides, according to the PSL’s match reports, did not add to that run.
Our view: this was a squad win. Cardoso left several of Saturday’s starters on the bench with Sunday in mind and still got through. Arrows defended well for long spells and Msibi kept them in it, but a side that has now lost twice since Saturday needs more than a good goalkeeper.
What comes next
Sundowns turn to the CAF Super Cup against USM Alger on Sunday, as iDiski Times and Afrik-Foot both note. The other three quarter-finals follow this weekend: iDiski Times lists Orlando Pirates against Sekhukhune United on Saturday 7 November, then Kaizer Chiefs against Siwelele and Stellenbosch against AmaZulu on Sunday 8 November. Tonight’s reports do not yet give a semi-final opponent or date for Sundowns.