Golden Arrows have stunned Mamelodi Sundowns with a 1-0 victory in the first leg of their MTN8 semi-final at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday.
The result gives Abafana Bes’thende a valuable advantage heading into the second leg in Durban next weekend.
Sundowns controlled large portions of the match but struggled to turn their possession into clear-cut scoring opportunities. Golden Arrows remained disciplined at the back and looked dangerous when they broke forward.
The decisive moment came in the 38th minute when Junior Dion capitalised on a lapse in the Sundowns defence to put Arrows ahead. The goal proved to be enough to secure a famous away victory.
The defeat is a major setback for Sundowns, who were hoping to take a first-leg advantage into the return fixture. Instead, Miguel Cardoso’s side now face the task of overturning a one-goal deficit away from home.
Cardoso admitted after the match that his team lost concentration at a crucial stage, particularly after a lengthy stoppage caused by an injury to the Arrows goalkeeper.
Despite the disappointment, the Sundowns coach insisted the tie is far from over, with another 90 minutes still to play.
Golden Arrows, meanwhile, will take confidence from another impressive cup performance after eliminating Kaizer Chiefs in the quarter-finals.
The second leg will be played in Durban next weekend, with Arrows knowing that a draw would be enough to send them through to the MTN8 final.
For Sundowns, the message is simple: win in Durban or risk another early exit from a domestic cup competition.
The MTN8 semi-final remains finely poised with Golden Arrows leading 1-0 on aggregate.
