Lamola at the double as Arrows sink Spurs

Durban - Striker Lerato Lamola scored either side of the half-time break as Golden Arrows recorded a 2-1 victory over Witbank Spurs on Saturday to book their place in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals.

Lamola opened his account after just eight minutes of play, before notching his second of the afternoon just past the hour mark. Spurs substitute Slovo Mrawu pulled one back in the 85th minute, but it was a case of too little, too late as Arrows held on to progress to the next round of the competition.

The first half was played a high tempo, and it was the hosts who set the tone early on.

Patrick Mubayiwa went close to snatching an early goal for Spurs after finding space in the Arrows penalty area, but his header flew just wide, much to the relief of the away bench.

But, after seeing a penalty appeal waved away by the referee, it was Lamola who found the back of the net in the eighth minute. Danny Venter sent in a searching cross and Lamola met it with a sweetly struck shot into the bottom corner.

Spurs hit back with two chances of their own, but their 24th-minute free-kick was snapped up comfortably by Nkosingiphile Gumede in the Arrows goal, while Enock Zwane fired over from range in the 32nd minute.

It was Arrows who finished the half on the front foot, though, as Knox Mutizwa forced a save from Spurs keeper Edmore Sibanda, before Lamola headed into the side-netting three minutes from the half-time break.

The start of the second half was a somewhat scrappy affair, and Spurs again went close to bagging an early goal as Cleopas Dube headed straight into the grateful arms of Gumede.

However, they were caught napping at the back in the 65th minute as Lamola latched onto a cross from substitute Zolani Nkombelo before skipping past the keeper and firing into an open net.

Spurs redoubled their efforts after falling further behind and their patient build-up play appeared to be working as they struck the crossbar from a set-piece in the 75th minute, before Joshua Sauls forced Gumede into a good save on 80 minutes.

Their hard work finally paid off in the 85th minute as Slovo Mrawu pulled one back for the hosts after controlling the ball with his chest and firing it past Gumede.

Arrows were just about able to hold on, though, as Spurs failed to find another goal in the remaining minutes.