Sundowns welcomed back Hlompho Kekana and Gaston Sirino as their key changes from the side that lost to the self-same Arrows in the league two weeks ago.
Masandawana were given a big chance in the first five minutes when a poor pass at the back landed to Kekana who charged at Edmore Sibanda before letting rip with a tame strike.
The skipper atoned for the miss when he leaped to meet a Lyle Lakay in-swinging free-kick to hand Masandawana the opening goal on ten minutes amidst a number of bodies around him.
Andile Jali lined-up a blistering drive straight down the throat of Sibanda from the centre of the area five minutes later, but the Zimbabwean acrobatically plucked the effort from the top corner.
Abafana Besthende began growing after the half-hour mark, but were pulled back when Sirino latched onto a rebound in the area to slot into the bottom corner ten minutes to halftime.
Changes aplenty arrived at the start of the second half that saw Kennedy Mweene and Tiyani Mabunda for Denis Onyango and Kekana for Sundowns whilst Zolani Nkombela made way for Divine Lunga for the home side.
Arrows looked for a comeback earlier in the half, but Mweene palmed a floating delivery from Knox Mutizwa over the top as the defence backed off.
Abafana Besthende pulled a goal back when Michael Gumede tapped home a low cross from the left in the final ten minutes.
Sundowns were reduced to ten men four minutes later as a strong challenge from Sirino on Matome Mathiane left Victor Gomes no choice but to dismiss the attacker with a straight red card.
Nonetheless , the Brazilians marched to victory despite the nervy end with a chance to land the Telkom Knockout after four years raging on.
Arrows: Sibanda, S.Dube, Sibisi, Mathiane, Nkombelo, Phiri, Parusnath, Shitolo, Makhubela, Mtshali, Mutizwa.
Subs: N.Gumede, Bilankulu, L.Dube, Lunga, Venter, M.Gumede, Sibiya.
Sundowns: Onyango, Langerman, Lakay, Madisha, Jali, Kekana, Lebusa, Morena, Mkhulise, Sirino, Affonso.
Sub: Mweene, Meza, Coetzee, Ngcongca, Maboe, Mabunda, Ngoma.