Lamontville Golden Arrows defeated Polokwane City 2-1 in an Absa Premiership match at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The win took Abafana Bes’thende to the fifth spot on the league standings, while Rise and Shine remained fourth on the table.
Abafana Bes’thende got off to the perfect start as they broke the deadlock through their star forward Knox Mutizwa.
The former Bidvest Wits striker hit the back of the net with a header to make it 1-0 to Arrows just three minutes into the encounter.
Rise and Shine tried to respond with a goal, but Arrows goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda made a great save to deny Vusi Mngomezulu six minutes into the game.
The hosts dominated possession as the match progressed, with Danny Phiri pulling the strings in the middle of the park.
Michael Gumede tried to beat Polokwane goalkeeper George Chigova from range a few minutes before the half-hour mark, but his effort missed the target.
Zimbabwe first-choice keeper Chigova then denied his countryman Mutizwa with a smart save nine minutes before the halftime break.
The score was 1-0 to Arrows at the interval following a lively first-half in Durban.
Ayanda Nkili was introduced by Polokwane after the restart as the visitors looked to restore parity in the second-half.
Rise and Shine applied some pressure on the Abafana Bes’thende defence and they managed to level matters through midfield maestro Salulani Phiri.
The Zambia international beat Sibanda to make it 1-1 for Polokwane, with Mngomezulu grabbing an assist after the hosts’ defence was exposed.
Abafana Bes’thende and Rise and Shine then launched late attacks in search of a late winning goal.
Ntsako Makhubela proved to be the hero for the hosts as he scored in stoppage to seal Arrows’ 2-1 win over Polokwane on the day.
ARROWS (1) 2 (Mutizwa 4′, Makhubela 90’+4)
POLOKWANE: (0) 1 (Phiri 64′)
ARROWS: Sibanda, Nkombelo, Mathiane, Sibisi, Dube, Makhubela, Phiri, Shitolo, Mtshali (Venter 74′), M.Gumede (Sibeko 60′), Mutizwa.
POLOKWANE: Chigova, Mvelase (Mvelase 47′), Hlongwane, Mbonani, Motloung, Manaka (Mashumba 64′), Mngomezulu, Chauke, Anas (Musona 64′), Phiri, Nku.© Backpage TXT
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
