Result: Golden Arrows 1-1 AmaZulu (Usuthu won 5-4 on penalties)
Date: 06 February 2021
Venue: Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium
AmaZulu defeated KwaZulu-Natal rivals Golden Arrows on penalties to secure a spot in the Nedbank Cup round of 16 on Saturday evening.
Usuthu head coach Benni McCarthy shuffled the pack, with the likes of goalkeeper Siyabonga Mbatha, Xolani Mlambo and Bonginkosi Ntuli given a cup run while Arrows were unchanged after a stunning win over Orlando Pirates.
Michael Gumede opened the scoring for Abafana Bes'thende in the 14th minute with a low strike past the onrushing Mbatha after going clear inside the box from Knox Mutizwa's through ball.
Ntuli had a chance to level matters for AmaZulu on the half-hour mark after going through at the near post but his shot was saved by shot-stopper Sifiso Mlungwana.
Siphelele Magubane came close to snatching the equaliser for AmaZulu five minutes before the break with a cracking strike from a free-kick on the edge of the box but Mlungwana made a great save to keep the hosts ahead.
With the game struggling to produce chances in the early exchanges of the second stanza, McCarthy made double change on the hour-mark, bringing on Siphelele Mthembu and Lehlohonolo Majoro for Butholezwe Ncube and Ntuli.
The substitute's impact was not immediate, but Majoro eventually snatched the equaliser for AmaZulu in stoppage time with a first-time strike at the back post into a gaping net after a cross by Luvuyo Memela, sending the clash to extra-time.
Siphamandla Sabelo had a wonderful chance to snatch the winner for Arrows in the 17th minute of extra-time after going through at the near post but he blasted his shot wide. Meanwhile, Arrows finished extra-time with ten men after Ntsako Makhubela got a second booking in the tail end.
The was to be decided by penalties, where Usuthu held their nerve after Danny Phiri missed the fourth spot-kick for Arrows, allowing Memela to slot home the winning penalty to send McCarthy's side to the round of 16.
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Arrows: Mlungwana, Lunga, Sibisi, Zuke, M. Dube, Mmodi, L. Dube, Makhubela, Parusnath, M.Gumede, Mutizwa.
Subs: N.Gumede, Nkombelo, Sabelo, Ndlovu, Mtshali, Conco, Phiri, Sibiya.
AmaZulu: Mbatha, Sikhakhane, Mabiliso, Mzava, Gumede, Makaula, Mlambo, Ncube, Magubane, Mulenga, Ntuli
Subs: Boshoff, Mgwazela, Xoki, Masilela, Khumalo, Chawapihwa, Memela, Majoro, Mthembu
