Sundowns shoot down Arrows to book their place in MTN8 final
Masandawana will make their second appearance in the top-eight final under the sponsorship of MTN.
Divine Lunga of Mamelodi Sundowns celebrates goal with teammates during the 2021 MTN8 semifinal 2nd leg match against Golden Arrows at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Tuesday. (Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix)
It took the first 30 minutes for Mamelodi Sundowns to book their place in the final of the MTN8 when they showed their class in the second-leg semifinal against Golden Arrows at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Tuesday night beating them 3-0 and 4-1 on aggregate.
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Masandawana will make their second appearance in the top-eight final under the sponsorship of MTN as their maiden appearance was five years ago when they lost to the now defunct Bidvest Wits.
Peter Shalulile – as it is becoming so often – was on the score-sheet again for Downs after he netted a brace against Orlando Pirates in the league this past weekend. It took the Namibian striker just four minutes to get his engine hot as he was found by Thabiso Kutumela to immediately swing the tie in Downs’ favour as the first-leg resulted in a one-all draw.
Former Arrows defender, Devine Lunga got the second goal for Downs and in a sign of respect for his ex-employers, he observed the unwritten rule of choosing not to celebrate a goal against a side which you once represented. However, his night did not end well as he had to be stretched off in the 68th minute.
Lunga was at the end of a rough challenge and had to receive medical attention in the dressing room. Neo Maema came off the bench to put the cherry on top with a stunning curler in the 90 minute. His strike was so good that he received a standing ovation from his teammates and coaches.
Lehlohonolo Seema cut a frustrated figure in the dugout, barking at his players in so much annoyance. Perhaps one of the things that infuriated him was when centre-back Rushine De Reuck had a moment of adventure as he trekked all the way from one end of the pitch to the other, you’d easily confuse him with an attacking midfielder.
The score board could have had a different reading by half-time as Kutumela hit the woodwork with a diving header towards the end of the first stanza. In the dying stages of the game, goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse collided with Arrows skipper, Nkosinathi Sibisi in an aerial battle for the ball and both had to be stretched off with much concern from both dugouts.
Sundowns will now meet the winner of the Swallows versus Cape Town City game in the MTN8 final. The Birds and the Citizens meet in the second leg semi-final clash at Dobsonville Stadium on Wednesday.
