Marumo Gallants coach Lafitte Alexander praises veteran goalkeeper Washington Arubi for his outstanding performance in the Carling Knockout semi-final against Golden Arrows.
In a thrilling encounter at King Zwelithini Stadium, Arubi saved two crucial penalties from Brandon Theron and Thabo Matlaba, leading Gallants to a triumphant 4-2 victory in the shootout after the match ended in a 2-2 draw after regulation and extra time.
Despite a drop in energy during the latter stages of the match, Arubi's experience shone through as he made several vital saves to keep his team in the game. This was not Arubi's first heroic performance in a shootout this season, having previously saved three penalties and scored the winning spot-kick against Mamelodi Sundowns in the first round.
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa will now face Orlando Pirates in the Carling Knockout final at Peter Mokaba Stadium on December 6. Alexander expressed his trust in the goalkeeper, stating, "Honestly, Arubi is like this — he can even take penalties. It was a difficult game, but when you have Washington in goal, he can help you in those crucial moments. I trust him completely."
The Pirates secured their place in the final with a narrow 1-0 victory over Richards Bay at a packed Moses Mabhida Stadium. Gallants, who denied Golden Arrows a chance at their first final, will enter the match with confidence following their earlier 2-1 victory over Pirates this season.
However, Pirates have been on a great run, losing only once in 18 matches, which includes their MTN8 triumph over Stellenbosch FC. "We are in the final, and I'm grateful for that," Alexander shared. "It was a difficult game, a tough moment. For 90 minutes we played well, but our defending for the second goal was poor — we had chances to win 2-1."
Looking ahead to the final, Alexander emphasized his team's mindset, acknowledging the challenge of high-energy matches. "In the end, I’m happy we won. Penalties are like this [a lottery]."
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