Gallants outlast Arrows to set up Carling Knockout final against Pirates

Marumo Gallants will meet Orlando Pirates in the final of the Carling Knockout Cup after beating Golden Arrows 4-2 on penalties at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday.

After an absorbing 2-2 draw in regulation time, Gallants held their nerve in the shootout to seal their passage to a second domestic cup final in three years, with goalkeeper Washington Arubi emerging as the hero once again.

The veteran shot-stopper saved Thabo Matlaba’s penalty before Ibrahim Bance stepped up to bury the decisive kick that sent Gallants into raptures and silenced the home crowd. The encounter had sparked into life in the second half after a cagey opening 45 minutes where both sides were content to probe and contain. 

Manqoba Mngqithi’s Arrows looked more adventurous early on, pressing high and using the width through Sboniso Madonsela and Thokozani Khumalo, but they found Arubi in inspired form.

The breakthrough came in the 53rd minute when Isaac Cisse bundled home from a corner, capitalising on poor defending from Gallants to give Arrows a deserved lead.

The visitors hit back almost immediately. Two minutes later, Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo reminded everyone of his quality with a brilliant solo goal, gliding past two defenders before firing low into the bottom corner for 1-1.

Gallants then went ahead in spectacular fashion. In the 58th minute, Sekela Sithole spotted Xolani Ngcobo off his line and unleashed an audacious strike from near the halfway mark — a goal that will surely contend for one of the season’s best.

The game swung back again as Arrows found their equaliser in the 70th minute. Nqubeko Dlamini played a clever one-two with Sede Dion before curling his effort beautifully into the top corner, restoring parity and setting up a tense finale.

Both teams pushed for a winner in the closing stages, but neither could find the decisive touch as the match went into extra time.

In the added period, fatigue crept in and clear chances were few. Arrows looked to their bench for inspiration while Gallants relied on their experienced core to steady the tempo. 

Katlego Otladisa remained a constant outlet on the break, but both sides seemed resigned to a shootout by the closing minutes.

When penalties arrived, Gallants showed greater composure. Arubi’s save from Thabo Matlaba tilted the advantage their way, and with Gallants converting all four of their five of their efforts — including a calm final strike from Bance — the Bloemfontein-outfit marched into the final to face Orlando Pirates.

For Arrows, it was heartbreak yet again, while Gallants’ remarkable cup journey continues, fuelled by belief, resilience, and a goalkeeper who thrives under pressure.