Sundowns blunt Arrows to book spot in Telkom Knockout final

Coach Mosimane’s prayers answered as Brazilians book spot in the lucrative Telkom Knockout final

Revenge is a dish best served cold!

A 10-man Mamelodi Sundowns team gave Golden Arrows a taste of their own medicine when they beat the home side in their Telkom Knockout semifinal showdown in Durban yesterday.

A fortnight ago, Arrows reigned supreme during a five-goal thriller in the Absa Premiership at the same venue – Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.

But losing twice to the same team in back-to-back matches was not an option for the Brazilians.

The 3-2 defeat they suffered at the hands of the Claremont-based outfit on a rain-soaked pitch two weeks ago was still fresh in coach Pitso Mosimane’s and the Tshwane giants’ minds.

The nine-time league champions successfully executed their revenge mission with a nerve-wracking 2-1 victory over Arrows in front of a sold-out crowd to reach the Ziwa Mo cup final.

Sundowns will be going back to Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium for the final, which they will play against today’s winner between Kaizer Chiefs and Maritzburg United, on December 14.

Downs skipper Hlompho Kekana and midfield maestro Gaston Sirino did the business with first-half goals. Kekana punished the home side as early as the 11th minute, while Sirino doubled their lead eight minutes before the half-time break.

But Sirino went from a hero to a villain when he was shown a straight red card by referee Victor Gomes for a career-threatening tackle on Arrows captain Matome Mathiane.

Downs played the remaining seven minutes a man down.

Mduduzi Sibiya made it a nervy ending for the visitors with a goal nine minutes from time, but Downs hung on for victory.

Mosimane’s prayers for clear skies were answered after he complained about the bad weather in their league defeat.

The weather gods smiled in Mosimane’s favour as his team played their usual free-flowing football.

His troops did not take the foot off the pedal as they continued from where they left off after the half-time break.

The coach withdrew injured African goalkeeper of the year Denis Onyango, bringing in Kennedy Mweene.

He sacrificed the skipper Kekana, who had been yellow-carded, and replaced him with Tiyani Mabunda.

He feared that Kekana would be red-carded because the game was intense.

The forced changes affected the visitors as they lost their rhythm in the second period.

It was a game of two halves and Mosimane breathed a sigh of relief when the referee blew the final whistle.

Arrows were hoping to make it a double over Sundowns – just as they did to SuperSport United and Polokwane City in the league and cup in the previous rounds.

But it was not to be as Sundowns put the brakes on their good run.

The Brazilians now lie in wait for either Chiefs or United in the final.

No disrespect to Maritzburg, but Mzansi football fanatics are praying for a repeat of the 2015 cup final between Chiefs and Downs.

Sundowns lifted the trophy after hammering Chiefs 3-1.

A dream cup final is on the cards.

– City Press correspondent

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