Knox Mutizwa’s brace inspired Golden Arrows to a 3-2 win over Platinum Stars in an Absa Premiership match at Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday.

The result sees Abafana Bes’thende move into seventh place on the log and mathematically guarantee that they will not be drawn into the relegation playoffs.

Arrows made a bright start to the match, but it was Stars who nearly claimed an early goal, with Wangu Gome getting in behind the hosts’ defence in the ninth minute only to see his effort rebound off the upright.

The Durban side responded with a good chance of their own on the quarter hour mark, as Danny Venter teed up Knox Mutizwa, but he was denied by a fine save from Mbongeni Mzimela.

Yet the Zimbabwean attacker would not be denied in the 18th minute, as he got on the end of a right-wing cross and headed the ball beyond the Stars goalkeeper to put Arrows 1-0 up.

On the half-hour mark Abafana Bes’thende doubled their lead, with Danny Venter finding himself in space and getting away a shot which had the beating of Mzimela – the second goal arrived after a prolonged spell of pressure.

A frantic end to the first half saw both teams strike the woodwork in quick succession, but Arrows deserved their two-goal lead at the interval.

Dikwena came out fighting in the second stanza, with the early introduction of Bongi Ntuli giving their attack a focal point and more impetus, and a couple of minutes before the hour mark they pulled a goal back through defender Enocent Mkhabela.

Yet any hope Stars had of avoiding defeat were dashed in the 80th minute when Mutizwa completed his brace with a fine finish to make it 3-1 and seal the victory for Abafana Bes’thende.

Dikwena still had time to pull one more goal back in the dying seconds, as Gift Sithole capitalised from a goal-mouth scramble, but it wasn’t enough to stave off a 16th loss for the Rustenburg side.

Golden Arrows (2) 3 (Mutizwa 18’ 80’, Venter 30’)

Platinum Stars (0) 2 (Mkhabela 58’, Sithole 90+3’)


Arrows: Mbeava, Mzava, Mathiane, Mngwenge, Nonyane, Phiri, Venter (Mahachi 60’), Magubane (Buthelezi 65’), Ndwandwe, Shongwe (Bilankulu 79’), Magubane, Mutizwa

Stars: Mzimela, Mere, Sithole, Mkhabela, Mpeta (Tshabangu 67’), Senne (Ntuli 53’), Gome (Ng’ambi 74’), Baloyi, Phiri, Mekoa, Koapeng

Golden Arrows will look to boost their hopes of finishing in the top eight of the Absa Premiership when they host Platinum Stars at Princess Magogo Stadium on 28 April 2018, kick-off at 15h00.

Arrows claimed their seventh win of the league season when they defeated Kaizer Chiefs 3-1 at home on April 24. Lerato Lamola’s brace helped the Durban side secure a third three-pointer from their last seven PSL outings.

Abafana Bes’thende have claimed 19 points from 14 home matches this season. In their final game as hosts, they will be looking to add to the four home wins they have secured over AmaZulu, SuperSport United, Ajax Cape Town and Chiefs.

Stars suffered their 15th defeat of the season when they were beaten 2-1 at home by AmaZulu on April 25. The result saw the Rustenburg club relegated from the top flight, as they will finish bottom of the log.

Dikwena have claimed 11 points from 14 away matches this season, with their last game on the road ending in a 1-0 defeat at Kaizer Chiefs in mid-April.

In head-to-head stats, Stars and Arrows have met in 27 league matches since 2003/04. Dikwena have claimed 12 wins compared to eight for Abafana Bes’thende, while seven matches have been drawn. The Durban side has won four of their 13 home matches against their Rustenburg counterparts, just four defeats in the process.

When the teams met earlier this season, in Rustenburg in September 2017, Arrows claimed a 1-0 away win thanks to a late penalty from Kuda Mahachi. These teams have not played out a draw against each other since the first half of the 2010/11 season.

Arrows’ line-up from their 3-1 win over Chiefs on April 24: Mbaeva, Mzava, Mathiane, Mngwenge, Nkombelo (S.Dube 72'), Venter, Ndwandwe, Zuke (Phiri 46'), Shongwe, Magubane (Mahachi 68'), Lamola.

Stars’ line-up from their 2-1 loss to AmaZulu on April 25: Mzimela, Mere, Sithole, Mkhabela, Mpeta (Norodien 72'), De Jongh, Mekoa, Gome, Tshabangu, Senne (Phiri Jr 69'), Ntuli (Koapeng 82').