Golden Arrows edge Mamelodi Sundowns in first-leg MTN8 semi-final

Golden Arrows took a significant step towards the MTN8 final with a 1-0 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of their semi-final at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday.

Junior Dion, who finished last season as the competition’s Golden Boot winner with 15 goals, scored the only goal of the match to give Abafana Bes’thende a valuable advantage before the return fixture in Durban next Sunday.

The result also extended Golden Arrows’ perfect defensive record at the start of the season. They have now kept five consecutive clean sheets across their league and MTN8 matches.

Sundowns were without first-choice goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, who was presumably rested and was not included in the match-day squad. His replacement, Ricardo Goss, made his first appearance for the club since May 2022.

Goss spent the past four years on loan at SuperSport United, who later became Siwelele following a change of ownership. Sundowns recalled him from Siwelele before the start of this season to serve as Williams’ understudy.

The hosts came close to taking the lead in the 11th minute. Lebo Mothiba pounced on a loose ball inside the penalty area, but Golden Arrows goalkeeper Edward Maova produced an excellent leg save to keep out his effort.

Maova suffered discomfort in his knee during the incident and was unable to continue. Thakasani Mbanjwa replaced him after a six-minute delay.

Sundowns controlled much of the possession and made frequent attempts to enter the Golden Arrows penalty area, but the visitors created the next clear opening. Sabelo Sithole launched an impressive run from inside his own half, taking on several Sundowns players in a move reminiscent of an “Ankara Messi” moment.

Sithole then supplied Nhlanhla Gasa, whose effort drifted wide in the 23rd minute.

Although Sundowns had been the more dominant team, it was Golden Arrows who broke the deadlock. Khulekani Shezi played a precisely weighted through-ball in the 38th minute, and Dion anticipated it perfectly before rounding the advancing Goss.

That was the only occasion Goss was called into action during the first half. Sundowns did threaten again before the interval, but Mbanjwa made a tidy save to deny Bennett Mokoena in stoppage time.

Mbanjwa would prove increasingly important after the break as Sundowns committed more players forward in search of an equaliser.

Sundowns manager made two changes at half-time, sending on Tashreeq Matthews and Brayan Leon for Mokoena and Mothiba. Ten minutes into the second half, the Tshwane giants made another double substitution, with Sphelele Mkhulise and Nuno Santos replacing Bathusi Aubass and Cassius Mailula.

The changes reflected Sundowns’ determination to recover from the first-leg setback, but Golden Arrows defended their lead and maintained their unbeaten clean-sheet sequence.

Abafana Bes’thende will now carry their narrow advantage into the second leg at home in Durban next Sunday, with a place in the MTN8 final at stake.