Mamelodi Sundowns into Carling Knockout Cup semis after hard-fought victory

By SABC Sport
3rd November 2026

Iqraam Rayners netted the only goal of the game as Mamelodi Sundowns booked their place in the semi-finals of the Carling Knockout Cup after beating Golden Arrows 1-0 at Loftus on Tuesday.

Sundowns started the game on the front foot but failed to penetrate a stubborn Arrows defence, with Siyanda Ndlovu rattling the crossbar the closest the hosts came to scoring.

Arrows goalkeeper Dumsani Sibisi made a fine save on stroke of half-time when keeping out a thunderous long-range effort from Mothobi Mvala.

Sibisi was having an inspired performance and the shot-stopper denied Rayners from opening the scoring, the goalkeeper keeping out a left-footed strike.

The deadlock was finally broken with about 20 minutes of regulation time remaining when Antonio van Wyk saw his pin-point cross glanced into the back of the net by Rayners.

The visitors would be forced to throw men forward in search of the equaliser, but they could not create clear-cut opportunities to test home 'keeper Ricardo Goss.

Sundowns ultimately showed their experience to hold on their slender lead and became the first team into the last-four of this season's Carling Knockout Cup.