Golden Arrows booked their ticket to the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup with a 1-0 victory against Platinum Stars at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday afternoon, writes MARSHALL GOUTS.
Arrows made a total of six changes from the squad that drew 1-1 with Ajax Cape Town in their Absa Premiership tie last week, with Limbikani Mzava, Romario Dlamini, Musa Bilankulu, Nduduzo Sibiya and Kagiso Dikgacoi given the nod by Clinton Larsen.
Cavin Johnson made two changes from the side that went down to Polokwane City in their league encounter last week as he introduced Kulegani Madondo and Solomon Mathe in place of Vuyo Mere and Sibusiso Msomi.
The encounter got off to a slow start, with both sides looking to determine each other’s weaknesses in the opening exchanges.
Platinum Stars dominated possession stakes and looked threatening through the likes of Ryan De Jongh and Robert Ng’ambi.
Arrows goalkeeper Nkosingiphile Gumde ensured that the scores remained level when he did well to parry Ng’ambi’s powerful effort, before turning away Bonginkosi Ntuli’s rebounded effort for a corner.
Arrows should’ve broken the deadlock in the 28th minute when Knox Mutizwa was put through on goal, but the Zimbabwean placed his effort straight into the hands of the goalkeeper.
The home side took the lead in the 40th minute when captain Bilankulu rose highest to head home Nkosinathi Sibiya’s header. Arrows took a 1-0 lead into the half-time break.
Dikwena emerged with more of an attacking intent in the second half, but a mixture of wasteful finishing and poor-decision making ensured that Arrows maintained the lead.
Platinum Stars made a number of attacking substitutions in search of the equaliser, but could not find a way past the resilient Arrows defence.
Stars were unfortunate not have drawn level in the 84th minute when Mathe’s header was cleared off the line, but replays suggested that there was a hand-ball involved by the Arrows defender.
The KwaZulu-Natal outfit held on to their one-goal lead to advance to the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, Chippa United defeated Jomo Cosmos 1-0 in their Nedbank Cup quarter-final tie at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, with Lerato Manzini netting the only goal of the game.
Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
