Two late goals within a minute earned Golden Arrows a 2-1 win over Platinum Stars in a scrappy Telkom Knockout first clash played at the Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday.

Stars, leading 1-0, were stunned by an own goal by Lehlohonolo Thebakeng in the 84th minute and then were bombed out of the competition they won as Silver Stars in 2006 by a stunning header from Tshepo Mashego a minute later.

The match was further soured for Stars when hot-headed Mozambican midfielder Almiro Lobo was sent off in injury time by referee Peter Mabuza for a second bookable offence.

Neither side looked like scoring in a disappointing first half in which both sets of defences dominated and, as a result, neither goalkeeper Arrows' Helton da Rocha nor Tapuwa Kapini were under pressure.

The quality of passing, set pieces and crossing from both set of players left much to be desired.

Stars could have taken the lead in the first minute when striker Luis Renteria found himself inside the Arrows penalty area unmarked. But, with the goal at his mercy, the Colombian-born striker rushed his shot which flew over the crossbar.

Stars did more attacking in the opening 30 minutes but could not navigate past the well-marshalled Arrows' defence where Mzuvukile Tom shone. Tom did well in the 27th minute to block a goal-bound shot from Joseph Malangoane.

Then Tom almost got the breakthrough but his close range header inside the six yard area inched past the upright on 33 minutes.

Renteria had another chance to score on the stroke of halftime and again he shot wide of the target.

The second half continued in the same vein as the first dull 45 minutes with too many passes from both sides going astray.

Arrows striker Vusumuzi Vilakazi had a shot blocked near the goalline in the 56th minute. A minute later Renteria volleyed over the crossbar.

Arrows Thokozani Mshengu wasted a great chance in the 59th minute when, with only Kapini to beat, he shot tamely at the Zimbabwean keeper. Kapini then did well three minutes later to deny Vilakazi a goal.

At the other end De Rocha palmed away a header from Mzikayise Mashaba in the 64th minute.

Renteria made it 1-0 when he hammered home a clever cross from Mashaba giving Da Rocha no chance. Renteria hit the side netting in the 77th minute as Stars looked for the second goal.

But disaster struck Stars six minutes from time when Thebakeng turned a cross into his own net giving Arrows a lifeline.

Then, within a minute, Mashego was unmarked and was able to head home the winner and give the MTN8 holders a place in the quarterfinals of the Knockout.