Nedbank Cup Last 16
Result: Witbank Spurs 1-2 Golden Arrows
Date: 16 February 2019
Venue: Puma Stadium
Golden Arrows kept their Nedbank Cup dream alive with victory over National First Division outfit Witbank Spurs on Saturday afternoon.
Arrows coach Steve Komphela made five alterations from their 3-2 defeat against SuperSport United last weekend, as Limbikani Mzava, Thabo Molefe, Musa Bilankulu, Siboniso Conco and Seth Parusnath earned starting berths.
As early as the eighth minute, Lerato Lamola opened the scoring for Abafana Bes'thende with a clinical strike at the near post from a very tight angle after turning brilliantly inside the box.
Arrows came close to doubling the lead in the 20th minute with a volley at the back post that was acrobatically kept out by goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda, following a teasing free-kick from Seth Parusnath.
Lamola should have bagged the second goal five minutes before halftime after latching onto Motladile's poor back-pass, but this time the Arrows striker could not get his angles right and fired over the crossbar from close rang.
Despite a lively start to the second stanza, Shakes Mashaba's men were punished in the 62nd minute as Lamola completed his brace for Abafana Bes'thende with a low shot in between Sibanda's legs at the near post after a clever through ball from Knox Mutizwa.
Patrick Mubayiwa was unlucky to rattle the crossbar for Spurs with 16 minutes remaining with a strike from just outside the box, while Joshua Sauls was denied by Arrows goalkeeper Nkosingiphile Gumede moments later.
Slovo Mrawu finally reduced the deficit for Spurs six minutes before time with a good finish inside the box after some good control in the box.
However, the goal proved to be nothing more than a consolation as Steve Komphela's held on for the win to advance to the quarter-finals.
Here's how they lined up:Spurs: 32. Sibanda, 5. Gum, 44. Nkosi, 12. Motladile, 15. Shaku, 21. Skhosana (Mdatyulwa 41'), 28. Peter Mubayiwa, 29. Patrick Mubayiwa, 3. Sauls, 45. Dube (Mrawu 66'), 1. Zwane.
Subs: 36. Mkhatshwa, 23. Bushula, 22. Mavuso, 17. Mdatyulwa, 13. Ngobe, 11. Raphepele.