Marumo Gallants clinched a place in the Carling Knockout Cup final after edging Golden Arrows 4-2 on penalties at King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The semi-final thriller ended 2-2 after extra time, with veteran goalkeeper Washington Arubi emerging as the hero in the shootout.
It marks coach Alexandre Lafitte’s first cup final since taking charge of Gallants at the start of the Betway Premiership season.
Tight opening before goal rush
Both teams approached the first half cautiously, with few clear chances. Arrows appealed for a penalty when Nqobeko Dlamini appeared to be tripped inside the box, but referee Victor Gomes waved play on. The sides went into the break deadlocked at 0-0.
Second-half fireworks
The match burst into life ten minutes after the restart. Isaac Cisse broke the deadlock for Arrows in the 54th minute, heading home from a corner. Gallants hit back almost immediately through Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo, who fired in from distance to make it 1-1.
Moments later, Daniel Msendami pounced on a loose ball to put the visitors ahead, before Arrows restored parity in the 70th minute when Dlamini curled in a superb equaliser after being teed up by Junior Dion.
Extra-time drama and penalty heroics
Arrows pressed hard in extra time, with Dion forcing a fine stop from Arubi in stoppage time. But Gallants held firm to force a shootout, where their Zimbabwean shot-stopper stole the show — denying Brandon Theron and Thabo Matlaba from the spot. Ibrahim Bance coolly converted the decisive penalty to seal a famous victory for Gallants.
Final score:
Golden Arrows 2 (Cisse 54’, Dlamini 70’)
Marumo Gallants 2 (Ndlondlo 56’, Msendami 58’)
Gallants won 4-2 on penalties
Road to the final
Gallants will now face Orlando Pirates in the final on Saturday, 6 December 2025, at a venue yet to be confirmed. The Buccaneers advanced after a narrow 1-0 win over Richards Bay, courtesy of Tshepang Moremi’s strike on the stroke of halftime — sealing their first cup final appearance since the 2018/19 season.
For Lafitte and Gallants, it’s a shot at history — a chance to claim the club’s first major trophy under new leadership.