Gallants, Pirates in Carling Knockout Final Showdown

Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi handed a recall to Thokozani Khumalo following his goal against Orlando Pirates on Wednesday, while Jerome Karelse dropped to the substitutes bench.

Both sides came out with a lively approach in the first half, but they both struggled with their decision-making in the final third, which led to a lack of chances at goal. Arrows nearly got the opening goal on 28 minutes when Sede Dion’s cross hit the upright with goalkeeper Wash ington Arubi left bothered on the line, although the Gallants' defence managed to clear from the rebound.

Gallants had their biggest moment of the half with five minutes left on the clock as Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo, who already has two goals in the tournament, saw his free-kick tipped onto the upright by goalkeeper Xolani Ngcobo. After a scoreless first period, Arrows broke the deadlock on 53 minutes when Isaac Cisse fired home from close range, making it two goals in two games against Gallants.

The visitors weren’t behind for too long as Ndlondlo did well to carve out space on the edge of the box before drilling the ball into the far corner for his third goal in the competition. Gallants completed the turnaround on 58 minutes through a moment of brilliance, as Sekela Sithole spotted Ng cobo off his line and let fly with a shot from 40 yards out that sailed into the back of the net.

Arrows responded with a lovely goal of their own to level matters in the 70th minute when Nqobeko Dlamini played a one-two with Dion before placing the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box. Both sides pushed for a winning goal in the closing stages of the second half, with Dion going closest in stoppage time with a header that was tipped over the crossbar by Arubi, which sent the clash to extra time.

While the extra time could not produce the goals, Gallants got the job done in the penalty shoot-out to set up a final clash against Orlando Pirates. – Soccer Laduma