Mamelodi Sundowns cruised to the final of the MTN8 after they beat Lamontville Golden Arrows 3-0 in a semi-final second leg encounter at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Tuesday evening.
The Tshwane giants won 4-1 on aggregate after drawing 1-1 with Abafana Bes’thende in the first leg match played in Durban last month.
Sundowns took the lead in the fourth minute through their goalpoacher Peter Shalulile. Arrows goalkeeper Sifiso Mlungwana spilled a Thabiso Kutumela attempt and Shalulile was on hand to punish him.
Abafana Bes’thende went on the offensive soon after conceding the goal and Velemseni Ndwandwe’s shot was saved for a corner by Sundowns goalminder Reyaad Pieterse in the sixth minute.
Soon after that, both teams made forays into each other’s half in search of goals. It was Sundowns, who scored through Divine Lunga after he headed past Mlungwana in the 29th minute.
Abafana Bes’thende survived on the stroke of half time after Kutumela’s header hit the upright with Mlungwana well beaten.
Arrows started well at the beginning of the second half taking the game to Sundowns. However, they failed to break the resolute Sundowns defence.
The Brazilians were forced to replace an injured Pieterse in the 87th minute. This was after Pieterse had collided with Arrows captain Nkosinathi Sibisi.
Neo Maema, formerly with Bloemfontein Celtic, put matters beyond Arrows’ reach when he made it 3-0 in added time.
