Mamelodi Sundowns strolled into the MTN8 final with a commanding 3-0 win over Golden Arrows at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Divine Lunga was given his debut, while Pavol Safranko replaced Kermit Erasmus as the outright centre forward in the Sundowns’ starting lineup, as Reyaad Pieterse was preferred in goal to Denis Onyango.
The league leaders made a perfect start to the game as they went in front in the fourth minute. They picked up the second ball after a long ball from Pieterse wasn’t dealt with and Peter Shalulile drove past some challenges before finding Thabiso Kutumela in the box, who had his shot parried into Shalulile’s path before the striker beat the goalkeeper to finish.
Two minutes later, Pieterse made an incredible save to preserve the hosts’ lead when Thabani Zuke’s low shot from distance almost crept in but he did well to push the ball around the post for a corner.
The Brazilians were fired up and almost made it 2-0 after some lovely exchange of passes between Kutumela and Themba Zwane, but the former’s shot was saved at the near post by Mlungwana.
Lunga then powered home a header from a free kick to open his account for Masandawana on his debut against his former side as the Brazilians’ were coasting clear of their visitors.
Abafana Bes’thende weren’t up to the task and shortly before the interval, Kutumela’s glancing header came off the upright and went out of play.
Moments after the restart, Haashim Domingo played a lovely ball over the top for Shalulile who took it down and teed up Safranko, but the Serbian’s shot went high and wide of the post.
Arrows enjoyed more possession in the second half and went in search of a goal early on as Sbonele Cele went on a mazy run to set up Khumalo but the Arrows man dragged his shot wide with Rushine de Reuck flying out to try and block the effort from outside the area.
Lehlohonolo Seema’s side had another opportunity when a long throw wasn’t properly cleared by Downs defender Grant Kekana but Simo Mbhele’s strike went wide of the post from the edge of the area.
Aubrey Modiba went on to set up Neo Maema and Safranko with teasing on crosses from the left-hand side but both failed to show aerial prowess to convert their chances.
The final nail on the coffin came from Substitute Maema, who made amends for his earlier miss with a powerful strike into the top far corner to send the DStv Champions into the MTN 8 Final for the first time since 2016.