Lamontville Golden Arrows thrashed a struggling Marumo Gallants side 3-1 in a 2021/22 DStv Premiership match at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Nkosinathi Sibisi, Knox Mutizwa and Siyabonga Khumalo all scored for Abafana Bes’thende as they climbed up to fifth spot on the league standings, while Bahlabane Ba Ntwa remained 15th on the log as they remain winless this term.
Abafana Bes’thende got off to a bright start as they created two good chances in the opening 15 minutes of the encounter with Thubelihle Magubane looking lively for the home side.
Magubane received a pass in the box and he had the time to turn and shoot, but his effort went inches wide of the target, before Mutizwa forced goalkeeper Washington Arubi into a fine save with a header.
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa grew in confidence as the match progressed and they had a chance to break the deadlock in the 32nd minute, but Junior Dion’s attempt was easily saved by keeper Maximilian Mbaeva.
Arrows were then able to contain Dion and his Gallants teammates, and the score was 0-0 at the halftime break following an evenly contested first-half.
The hosts pressed Bahlabane Ba Ntwa after the restart and they were awarded a penalty after Edgar Manaka was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box and Nkosinathi Sibisi beat Arubi from the spot-kick, to hand Arrows a 1-0 lead in the 51st minute.
The momentum was with the hosts and they doubled their lead when Siyabonga Khumalo set up Knox Mutizwa, who fired past his compatriot Arubi to make it 2-0 to Arrows five minutes after the hour-mark, with coach Lehlohonolo Seema’s side looking dominant.
However, Gallants took control of the match after conceding their second goal and they began putting pressure on the home side’s defence which saw Mutizwa score an unfortunate own goal to make it 2-1 with 15 minutes left on the clock.
The goal did not deter Seema’s charges as they surged forward in the close stages of the match and super-sub Khumalo scored in stoppage time to seal Arrows’ 3-1 victory over Gallants.
Golden Arrows (0) 3 (Sibisi 51′, Mutizwa 65′, Khumalo 90’+1)Marumo Gallants (0) 1 (Mutizwa og. 75′)TEAMS
Golden Arrows:Mbaeva, Zuke, Sibisi, M. Dube, Cele, Dlamini (Khumalo 45′), Mbhele, Ndwandwe, Mmodi (Ndlovu 89′), Magubane (Sibiya 80′), Mutizwa (Gumede 89′).
Marumo Gallants: Arubi, Mvelase (Hlatshwayo 21′), Ravhuhali, Thangwane, Nonyane, Manaka, Timm (Mphambanisa 83′), Otladisa, Ndlondlo, Dion (Nkosi 66′), Mnyamane.© Backpage TXT
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