Hat-trick hero Dion fires AmaZulu past Arrows

A Sere Junior Dion-inspired AmaZulu FC thrashed Golden Arrows 3-0 in Saturday evening's Carling Knockout quarterfinal match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

The win saw Usuthu join Stellenbosch FC and Richards Bay in the semifinals.

The KwaZulu-Natal giants are scheduled to lock horns with Mamelodi Sundowns in a DStv Premiership match on 8 October.

Arrows, on the other hand, saw their eight-match unbeaten run come to an end as they bow out of the cup competition and they will be keen to return to winning ways when they face Royal AM on 7 October in a league game.

FULL-TIME ⏰ || #CarlingKnockout 🏆

🟢 The City is Ours 🏙️#AmaZuluFC 3⃣ - 0⃣ Arrows#Indlulamithi#HebeUsuthu#UsuthuTogether pic.twitter.com/7d0yQVzPNp

— AmaZulu FC (@AmaZuluFootball) November 4, 2023

Usuthu got a well-deserved lead in the 25th minute after a good move.

Mondli Mbanjwa set up Sere Junior Dion who hit the back of the net to make it 1-0 to AmaZulu with the visitors' defence exposed.

The goal rattled the Abafana Bes'thende's defence and they conceded again four minutes later.

This time, Dion beat goalkeeper Olofemi Kayode from close range to make it 2-0 to a rampant AmaZulu side.

Coach Mabhuti Khenyeza's side was struggling to contain Dion who completed his first-half hat-trick in stoppage time to make it 3-0 to AmaZulu heading into the break after Arrows' poor marking was exposed.

🟢 𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 🏆

Junior Dion is the #CarlingKnockout Man of the Match. He is the hat-trick hero tonight. Congratulations Sigidi 💚#Indlulamithi#HebeUsuthu#UsthuTogether pic.twitter.com/P9cyZxmutL

— AmaZulu FC (@AmaZuluFootball) November 4, 2023

Khenyeza introduced strikers Lungelo Nguse and Ryan Moon prior to the start of the second-half.

Angelo van Rooi was denied by keeper Veli Mothwa in the 54th minute as Arrows looked to pull one back.

Mothwa was a busy man as he produced a decent save to deny Nguse in the 59th minute.

The Bafana Bafana keeper also saved an attempt from Van Rooi in the 67th minute to ensure that AmaZulu emerged as 3-0 winners.

AmaZulu (3) 3 (Dion 11', 29', 45'+10)

Arrows (0) 0

AmaZulu: Mothwa, Sikhakhane, Hanamub, Jooste, Mobara (Hlangabeza 87'), Gumede, Motshwari, Ekstein (Maluleka 74'), Ngema (Human 74'), Mbanjwa (Ndlovu 87'), Dion (Chidi Kwem 68').

Arrows: Kayode, Theron, Cross, Mantshiyane, Shitolo, Dube, Tlolane (Moon 46'), Ndwandwe, Van Rooi, Sibiya (Ncube 83'), Mutizwa (Nguse 46').