Mamelodi Sundowns are through to the semifinals of the Carling Knockout Cup following the 1-0 victory against Lamontville Golden Arrows.
Sundowns rattled the Arrows defence inside 30 seconds of the match. It was Antonio van Wyk’s acrobatic effort that almost found the back of the net but was blocked to deny the hosts an opener. Siyanda Ndlovu, on the 14th minute, fired a shot on the right flank but it rattled the crossbar to deny him an opener.
Masandawana were creating multiple chances which were denied on the final third. Meanwhile, the visitors were barely given a chance to take the ball to the other half.
Bathusi Aubaas made a crucial save on the 30th minute when Arrows took a shot from the right flank. Aubaas made a slide tackle to clear the danger away.
Just before the break, captain Mothobi Mvala struck a shot from range but the keeper leaped to smack the effort away. The clear-cut chances from the hosts to find goals were not enough, which led the two sides heading to the break goalless.
Bafana Ba Style had early opportunities in the opening minutes of the second stanza but it is Abafana Bes’thende who triggered the first convincing shot. The effort was triggered on the edge of the box but Ricardo Goss dived to make a save.
A few minutes later, Rayners tested the goalkeeper with a shot from the right side inside the box. The keeper leaped to tip the ball away.
On the 68th minute Iqraam Rayners finally broke the deadlock to put Downs ahead. The shot came from Antonio van Wyk and Rayners just redirected the ball towards goal with a glancing header.
The visitors looked to retaliate in the closing stages of the match. Goss, however, came off his line to make a save. Rayners’ only goal of the match was enough to see Downs through to the next round.
How we lined up: Goss, Morena, Mvala ©, Khoza, Basadien, Aubaas, Mkhulise, van Wyk, Ndlovu, Rayners, Sales.
Subs: Onyango, Ndamane, Modiba, Matuludi, Allende, Santos, Zwane, Mailula, Leon.
