Golden Arrows had a 1–0 lead from Tshwane. They took it home to Umlazi. It lasted until the 31st minute.
Cassius Mailula scored first. Junior Dion answered in the 69th. Marcelo Allende made it 2–1 on the day in the 77th. That was the away-goals line. Antonio van Wyk, off the bench, made it 3–1 in the 85th. Philani Khumalo pulled one back in stoppage time. 3–2 on the day. 3–3 on aggregate. Sundowns had three away goals. Arrows had one.
The rule did the rest.
Pirates were already in. They beat Sekhukhune 3–0 at Orlando on Saturday and 4–0 over the two legs. Fifth straight MTN8 final for the holders. Sundowns are the other half of the country that actually sells a cup.
King Zwelithini Stadium is not a neutral. Arrows sat in and made Sundowns play through it. A disallowed Arrows effort early in the second half sat in the argument after the whistle. It did not change the arithmetic. Miguel Cardoso’s side needed a score and got three. Pitso Dladla’s side scored twice at home and still walked out on the rule they could see coming once Allende hit the net.
The PSL has not published a locked date or venue. SABC reported 10 October. Until the league posts it, treat the calendar as open.
This is not a league table. It is the mid-season cup with R10 million at the end and a derby in the middle. Away goals decided a 3–3 tie. Pirates are chasing a fifth title in a row. Sundowns are chasing a final they had to win on the road after losing the first leg at home.
Tickets will move the hour the PSL names a ground. Both clubs have league and CAF midweeks in the same stretch. The final will be as good as the legs they have left. If you follow Arrows, Sunday was a performance that still died on a rule, not on a hiding.
* When does the PSL put a date and a stadium on paper?
* Do Cardoso and Abdeslam Ouaddou rotate into the final or gamble the league for the cheque?
* And does away goals survive another season of this tournament after a 3–3 that felt settled at 2–1?