Marumo Gallants have advanced to the Carling Knockout Cup final after a 4-2 win on penalties against Golden Arrows at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday. The match finished 2-2 after extra time.
It is the first cup final for coach Alexandre Lafitte since joining the Betway Premiership side at the beginning of the season. The first half of the match was tightly contested, with neither club creating many clear-cut scoring chances.
However, Arrows thought they had won a penalty on the half-hour mark, but their plea was ignored by the referee as he waved play on. This is after Nqobeko Dlamini appeared to have been fouled inside the box.
Both clubs went into the halftime break with the score still at 0-0. However, both clubs showed determination in the early stages of the second half.
GOLDEN ARROWS AND MARUMO GALLANTS DISH OUT ENTERTAINING SEMI-FINAL CLASH
Arrows were the first side to net the opening goal with a header from Isaac Cisse from a corner kick in the 53rd minute.
But it took only two minutes for the visitors to equalise after a long-range shot from Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo beat goalkeeper Xolani Ngcobo. Three minutes later, Gallants were in the lead again after Christopher Sithole caught Nqcobo off-guard with a stunning chip.
Ndlondlo thought he had scored a third for Gallants with only the keeper to beat, but Nqcobo was well placed to make a save.
But the home side took the fight to Gallants and were eventually rewarded with an equaliser in the 70th minute. Nqobeko Dlamini slotted home with a shot from outside the box after a Junior Dion assist to take the match to extra time.
ORLANDO PIRATES CARLING KNOCKOUT OPPONENT CONFIRMED
Gallants will now meet the Buccaneers at a venue yet to be announced on Saturday, 6 December 2025.
The Buccaneers advanced to the final after a hard-fought 1-0 win against Richards Bay FC at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday. Tshepang Moremi was the hero on the day following his strike on the stroke of half-time.
The win ensured Pirates’ path to the cup final for the first time since the 2018/19 season.
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