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Sundowns book TKO semis spot

Johannesburg - A Hlompho Kekana goal sent AmaZulu packing from the Telkom Knockout competition after losing 2-1 to Mamelodi Sundowns following 120 minutes in a quarter-final match at Loftus on Saturday night.

Cuthbert Malajila had put the home side in front with his 15th minute header, but it was not to be for the Pretoria side, as Bongani Ndulula scored in the 94th minute to draw level in regular time.

Sundowns were in control from the opening whistle and looked comfortable in all areas.

The visitors struggled to get a touch on the ball and gave away possession far too easily when they eventually found the ball at their feet.

The hosts capitalised just 15 minutes in and went ahead through Malajila's fifth strike of the season, after finding himself unmarked in the area from a corner as he nudged home a straightforward effort, 1-0.

AmaZulu saw out a difficult half with little going their way. Sundowns goalkeeper, Kennedy Mweene, looked untroubled after the opening 45 minutes, hardly breaking a sweat between the posts.

Sundowns again looked confident on the ball after the interval.

Ejike Uzoenyi, who was brought on as a second half replacement, narrowly missed the target after 61 minutes, but that was about as exciting as it got.

Hlompho Kekana went just wide with a typical long-range effort from 25 yards out after Uzoenyi's effort, before Uzoenyi's tame effort 13 minutes from the end.

Despite their lead, Sundowns were living dangerously and allowed Usuthu into the game towards the end, although AmaZulu remained without any clear-cut chances.

Bongani Ndulula was booked late in the game for simulation after going down inside the area and calling for a penalty.

After receiving the warning, however, Ndulula found himself in a similar area not long after and rounded-off to send the game into 30 minutes of additional time.

Additional time was a rather dull affair, but Kekana did manage to find the winner in the 106th minute with a low powerful shot into the corner of the net from 20-yards out, 2-1

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