Golden Arrows overcame their KwaZulu-Natal rivals, Maritzburg United 2-1 in a DStv Premiership match which was played at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Friday night.
Despite the victory, Abafana Bes’thende remained 10th on the league standings, but they are now three points behind sixth-placed Sekhukhune United, while the Team of Choice remained 12th on the table.
Abafana Bes’thende started the match brightly and they created the better chances, but Lehlononolo Seema’s charges were wasteful in the final third in the first half of the game – failing to punish the Team of Choice’s poor defending.
Pule Mmodi found himself in a one-on-one situation with goalkeeper Marcel Engelhardt after the hosts’ defence was caught ball watching. However, the Bafana Bafana international ballooned his effort over the crossbar.
The German shot-stopper then made two fabulous saves to deny Knox Mutizwa, who was a constant threat to the Maritzburg defence as the Zimbabwean centre forward was making well-timed runs into the hosts’ box.
The score was 0-0 at the interval nd Arrows would have been rueing their missed chances during the half-time break after dominating the first half of the KwaZulu-Natal Derby encounter.
However, Mutizwa finally got the goal he had been looking for after the restart. Themba Mantshinyane delivered a wonderful cross from the left which was headed home by Mutizwa to hand Arrows a 1-0 lead in the 47th minute.
The Team of Choice responded by exerting pressure on Abafana Bes’thende’s defence with Rowan Human keen to level matters. The Bidvest Wits academy product was denied twice by keeper Nkosingiphile Gumede, who also blocked Riyaz Ismail’s attempt.
Gumede was very busy between the sticks as he pulled a fantastic save to deny Tawanda Macheke at the near post. However, Gumede was beaten following the resultant corner-kick as Alfred Ndengane headed home Daylon Calasen’s cross at the back post to make it 1-1 in the 73rd minute.
However, Mutizwa had other ideas as the former Wits striker grabbed a late winning goal in the 82nd minute when he headed home substitute Michael Gumede’s cross which was flicked on by Sbonelo Cele and therefore, Arrows ran out 2-1 winners over Maritzburg.
Maritzburg 1 (Ndengane 73′)
Arrows 2 (Mutizwa 47′, 82′)
United: Engelhardt, Ndengane, Daniels, Kewuti (Soukouna 68′), Rae, Lukhubeni (Skelem 78′), Claasen, Pereira (Ismail 34′) Human, Samu, Macheke.
Arrows: N. Gumede, Sibisi, Nxadi, Ndlovu, Mantshinyane, L. Dube (Mathiane 90’+3), Sibiya, Cele (Magubane 88′), Fikizolo (Gumede 71′), Mmodi, Mutizwa.
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