SUNDOWNS CLAIM NARROW WIN AGAINST ARROWS
Mamelodi Sundowns beat Golden Arrows 1-0 in an Absa Premiership clash at the Princess Magogo Stadium on a wet Wednesday evening in KwaMashu.
Victory moves the defending champions up to fifth spot on the log standings, Abafana Bes’thende slip down to 12th as their unbeaten run in the league extends to five matches.
Lebohang Maboe scored the only goal of the game in a scrappy affair that failed to produce a lot of goal-scoring opportunities.
With the AmaZulu game still fresh in his memory, Reyaad Pieterse would’ve been a relieved man as he survived a nervy moment in the fifth minute.
Miscommunication between the goalkeeper and Ricardo Nascimento almost let in Lerato Lamola, but lucky for the Sundowns pair the Arrows striker decided to fling himself to the ground instead of pouncing on the loose ball.
The Brazilians finally conjured a shot in anger in the 32nd minute of the match after an attempted clearance fell to Toni Silva inside the area.
The Guinea Bissau international made good contact with the ball, but was unfortunate to see his rasping attempt trouble the side-netting and not the back of the net.
Another chance for the visitors fell to Sibusiso Vilakazi six minutes later, but from a similar position the midfielder also fired wide of Nkosingiphile Gumede’s goal.
Sundowns duly opened the scoring in the 44th minute following a sustained spell of pressure.
Vilkazi teed up Maboe with a delicate touch following a flowing move and the former Maritzburg United man made no mistake from close range to fire Pisto Mosimane’s troops in-front on the cusp of half-time.
Sundowns continued where they left off following the break, with Phakamani Mahlambi fizzing a powerful shot inches wide of the woodwork.
The forward had another chance to double Sundowns’ lead on the hour mark following a mistake by Gumede, but he failed to convert as the shot-stopper spared his own blushes with a good save.
Arrows offered very little in goal-scoring chances throughout the match and despite upping the tempo in the closing stages, Sundowns were relatively comfortable as they secured all three points to extend their unbeaten start to the campaign.
Golden Arrows 0
Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 1 (Maboe 44′)
Arrows: Gumede; Lunga, Mazava, Mngwengwe, Sibisi – Sibeko (Magubane 75′), Phiri, Molefe (Zuke 60′), Venter (Jooste 60′) – Lamola, Mutizwa
Sundowns: Pieterse; Morena, Madisha, Nascimento, Langerman – Kekana (Lakay 85′), Jali, Maboe, Vilakazi – Silva (Meza 70′), Mahlambi (Mabunda 61′).
