Golden Arrows claimed back-to-back wins in the DStv Premiership for the first time this season after they beat Chippa United 3-2 at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Vusimuzi Vilakazi’s side appeared to be cruising at halftime after goals from Ntsikelelo Nxadi (18′), Nduduzo Sibiya (23′) and Pule Mmodi (41′) gave them a commanding 3-0 lead.
But the Chilli Boys got their act together in the second half and struck twice in the space of five minutes through Etiosa Ighodaro (62′) and Ronald Pfumbidzai (67′) to ensure a tense finish to the contest in Durban.
Abafana Bes’thende climbed into the top-half of the table up to seventh place, leaving the opposition down in the relegation zone, just one point above rock-bottom Marumo Gallants.
Arrows came into the clash on the back of a three-game unbeaten run in the league, while Chippa were seeking their first win in three outings.
The two teams were fairly evenly matched in terms of possession and shots taken in the first half, but the visitors were let down by the final ball.
Abafana Bes’thende applied some early pressure and won a free-kick in a dangerous position on three minutes, although Knox Mutizwa cleared both the wall and the crossbar from the resulting set-piece.
Daine Klate’s men threatened to break the deadlock in the 12th minute when Sirgio Kammies got on the end of Shaquille Abrahams’ cross to force a save out of Nkosingiphile Gumede with his header from close range.
However, the opener arrived at the other end on 18 minutes as Sibiya’s free-kick found Nxadi, who headed past Sipho Chaine to put the hosts in front.
The referee pointed the spot just three minutes later when Mutizwa was brought down by Justice Chabalala inside the area and Sibiya converted from 12 yards out to give Arrows a two-goal lead.
The Eastern Cape outfit were left with a mountain to climb at the break after they conceded a third four minutes before halftime, with Mutizwa teeing up Mmodi to tap home after the Zimbabwean striker had done well to draw Chaine out of his goal.
Chippa looked for a swift response and Abdi Banda tested Gumede with a shot from inside the area in the stoppage time before Matome Mathiane steered a header wide of the right post from the resulting corner.
They were quickly out of the blocks in the second half as halftime substitute Andile Mbenyane drew a save out of Gumede with a header from Abrahams’ cross seconds after the restart.
The Chilli Boys ramped up the pressure and they were rewarded on 62 minutes when Ighodaro pulled one back from close range after Gumede failed to deal with Zuko Mdunyelwa’s initial shot.
Abrahams almost cut the deficit down to one goal moments later with a header that produced a fine save out of Gumede following a nicely-weighted cross from Azola Matrose and Chaine had to be alert at the other end soon afterwards to keep out Mmodi’s strike from inside the box.
But Gumede was at fault once more on 66 minutes as he spilt Ighodaro’s header and Pfumbidzai was on hand to score from close range to set Arrows’ nerves jangling.
Aviwe Mqokozo nearly found the equaliser 15 minutes from time with a shot from inside the area that flashed just wide of the right post, much to the relief of Gumede.
Arrows survived a late onslaught to hang on for all three points after Mathiane and Banda failed to hit the target in the closing stages.
Golden Arrows (3) 3 (Nxadi 18′, Sibiya 23′ PEN, Mmodi 41′)
Chippa United (0) 2 (Ighodaro 62′, Pfumbidzai 67′)
Golden Arrows:N. Gumede, S. Ndlovu, T. Zuke, N. Nxadi, D. Lunga, N. Sibiya (S. Khumalo 56′), S. Gumbi (R. Moon 70′), S. Magawana (A. Fikizolo 73′), V. Ndwandwe, P. Mmodi, K. Mutizwa.
Chippa United:S. Chaine, Z. Mdunyelwa, J. Chabalala (A. Mqokozo 46′), M. Mathiane, R. Pfumbidzai, S. Kammies (A. Matrose 46′), R. Pietersen, A. Banda, S. Abrahams (T. Mini 75′), S. Luthuli (A. Mbenyane 46′), E. Ighodaro (D. Appollis 80′).
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