Despite a hard-fought equaliser and a numerical advantage in the closing stages, Lamontville Golden Arrows exit the Nedbank Cup after a clinical penalty shoot-out by Durban City. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Lamontville Golden Arrows were left to ponder a series of missed chances after being knocked out of the Nedbank Cup on Sunday.
Neighbours Durban City triumphed in a dramatic penalty shoot-out, winning 5-4 after a 1-1 deadlock at the end of extra-time. The match at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium saw both sides battle fiercely for supremacy in the quarter-final.
While Golden Arrows initially appeared to dominate proceedings with fluid football, City’s Fezile Gcaba capitalised on a set-piece to score the opening goal in the 39th minute — ironically, City’s first corner of the match.
Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi expressed disappointment with the outcome, noting that despite early control, his team fell victim to defensive lapses.
“I believe we began the game well and played excellent football. However, City punished us at a set-piece,” said Mngqithi.
The tide turned for Golden Arrows in the second half, marked by Thokozani Khumalo’s equaliser in the 59th minute. Despite the momentum shifting in favour of the home side, Mngqithi highlighted a crucial turning point: a red card shown to City midfielder Athini Jodwana in the 79th minute, which gave Arrows a one-person advantage for the final quarter of the match.
“Once they got a red card, I think our immaturity started to show,” said Mngqithi. “We played a lot of unnecessary long balls and were not as aggressive and as intense as I expected.”
This allowed City to regain composure and adapt their strategy to handle the sudden shift in dynamics. In retrospect, Mngqithi cited a glaring missed opportunity by Khumalo, who squandered a close-range chance that the coach described as bewildering.
“I don’t even know how it did not go into the net,” he said, acknowledging the cruel unpredictability of football.
With momentum slipping away from them, Arrows struggled to make their numerical advantage count. As the match wound down, there were tense moments aplenty, including a controversial incident where Mngqithi felt Arrows should have been awarded a penalty for a late challenge by City goalkeeper Edward Maova.
“That was how I can summarise the game,” said Mngqithi, “but I do believe we played well — but not well enough if we did not win the match.”
With City through to the semi-finals, Golden Arrows are left grappling with the aftermath of unfulfilled potential and the painful lesson of taking chances when they present themselves. The defeat not only ends their cup campaign but also raises questions about their approach as they move forward in the local football scene.