The Sunday Mail
THERE was no joy for the Zimbabwean quartet of Edmore Sibanda, Danny Phiri, Knox Mutizwa and Devine Lunga yesterday as their side Golden Arrows fell to the first upset of the Nedbank Cup at the Dobsonville Stadium, where SAB Regional League side Vaal University Of Technology eliminated them on penalties. Big goalkeeper Sibanda, midfielder Phiri, striker Mutizwa and defender Lunga were all missing from the starting line-up as Abafana Bes’thende made wholesale changes, with goalkeeper Sifiso Mlungwana and Velemseni Nwandwe being the only two players remaining from their narrow league win over SuperSport United.
Lunga watched the drama unfold at Dobsonville from the substitutes’ bench.
There were no such woes for their fellow Zimbabwean Clive Augusto who came on as a 78th minute substitute for Maritzburg United as the “Team of Choice’’ sneaked into the round of 16 last Friday night via a penalty lottery following a 2-2 draw in regulation time with Ovidy Karuru’s Stellenbosch at Athlone stadium in Cape Town.
In yesterday’s game in Johannesburg VUT had a dream start as they grabbed the lead in the fourth minute after Leuba Tema unleashed a rocket from outside the box that found the top corner. Arrows quickly levelled matters in the 11th minute after Sibusiso Mokondo turned Sibusiso Sibeko’s shot across the goal into his own net while attempting to clear.
Stanley Nkoana’s troops were absorbing the pressure and threatening on counter-attacks but were only let down by their finishing in the last third.
The game was stretching from end to end in the closing phase of the first stanza, with some best chances falling for VUT, especially on the break, but Mlungwana played a big role as a sweeper-goalkeeper to keep the scores level at the break.
Steve Komphela’s men were fired up coming from the break and created chances in the early phase. However, they were unable to take advantage in the 18-yard area.
Arrows had a clear chance in the 74th minute to net the winner after Siphamandla Sabelo dribbled past a few defenders and laid the ball back to Lindokuhle Mtshali, who dragged his shot wide. The visitors finally grabbed the lead with four minutes left after Michael Gumede pulled off an overhead kick after VUT failed to deal with a free-kick.
However, Nkoana’s men did not lie down as they found the equaliser in the last two minutes after Reitumetse Hlongwane turned home Thato Nkoe’s cross, 2-2 to send the game into extra time. Arrows found the back of the net from a set-piece situation in the fifth minute of extra-time but the goal was disallowed for a foul in the build-up.
The visitors came close to snatching the winner with 10 minutes of extra-time remaining after Seth Parusnath’s found Mtshali at the near post. Naane made a great save. The game went on to a penalty shootout, where VUT held their nerve to triumph 6-5 in sudden death to seal a spot in the last 16. — Laduma/Sports Reporter
