An injury to assistant referee Zakhele Siwela in the Nedbank Cup semi-final between Stellenbosch FC and Mamelodi Sundowns had big consequences, after his substitute linesman denied the home side a legitimate goal.
Siwela, arguably the best assistant referee in the country, had a hamstring injury around the half-hour mark, with Sundowns already 1-0 up from a goal by Khuliso Mudau.
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The experienced linesman, with a good reputation on getting most offside calls correct, had to be substituted by fourth official Christopher Kistoor.
Kistoor changed flanks with the other assistant referee Kenneth Mamegwa, who took the place of Siwela on the side of the grandstand.
Mamegwa had a big decision to make in the 39th minute after Iqraam Rayners found the back of the net for Stellies from a through ball and he ruled out the goal for offside after raising his flag.
According to former PSL referee Victor Hlungwani, the goal should have stood, as there were two Sundowns players on the far side that put Rayners onside.
"Was that offside or not? We'll draw the line to tell you. We can see that there is a player on the far side that put Rayners on, this player you can see he puts Rayners onside," Hlungwani said in his analysis on SABC's SoccerZone.
"So, here the goal should have been allowed because there's no offside. There's two opponents nearer to their goal as per the offside law. Stellies were supposed to get a goal, Rayners scored a beautiful goal," Hlungwani affirmed.
The complexion of the game would have changed if the sides went to the break 1-1.
Sundowns eventually got the second goal 16 minutes before time through Thembinkosi Lorch, which effectively killed the game.
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Although Genino Palace pulled a goal back for Steve Barker's charges with nine minutes remaining, the Brazilians had too much experience to see the game out.
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