Mamelodi Sundowns have recorded their first league loss of the season following the 1-0 defeat against Lamontville Golden Arrows on Wednesday afternoon at the King Zwelithini Stadium.
The visitors looked composed and settled in the opening minutes of the stanza as they took control of the game. They looked to find the back of the net early, but their opportunities were quickly closed down by the Arrows’ defence squad.
Abafana Besthende were also imposing danger on the counterattack. Their first counter opportunity saw Ronwen Williams coming from his line to sweep the ball. The second one was when the ball entered the danger area, but Keanu Cupid managed to toe-poke the ball away from danger.
Danger loomed in the area for Bafana Ba Style as the hosts grew in confidence. A shot that was tucked behind the Downs’ defence almost found the net, but it rolled a few inches off the target. Just before the half-hour mark, Arrows opened the scoring through a header that connected from a corner kick.
The Brazilians’ attack was nullified following their search for a leveller in the closing stages of the opening stanza. They went to the interval trailing by a goal.
Masandawana continued to search for a leveller in the second half, and it started with Arthur Sales’ headed effort as he redirected the ball to the net, but it was met by the goalkeeper’s hands.
The KwaZulu-Natal side continued applying pressure on both the attack and defence. They were still testing Williams as they looked to double their advantage. They also blocked numerous scoring opportunities in the final third.
Downs had a scoring opportunity through Tashreeq Matthews’ shot from a tight angle, but his shot was kicked away by the keeper. A free kick was later awarded to the visitors after substitute Nuno Santos was fouled. Teboho Mokoena took the setpiece, but his shot was not venomous enough, as the goalkeeper bucketed it.
In the closing stages of regulation time, Bafana Ba Style had an opportunity to level matters from a corner kick, but Mothobi Mvala’s headed effort went wide. The visitors were denied an opportunity to walk away with at least a point after not being able to find a leveller.
Williams ©, Mudau, Cupido, Khoza, Modiba, T. Mokoena, Allende, Adams, Sales, Shalulile, Matthews.
Subs: Onyango, Lunga, Mvala, Aubaas, Mkhulise, Ntsabeleng, Santos, Mothiba, B. Mokoena.
SOURCED FROM THE CLUB’S WEBSITE.
