Sundowns edge out Golden Arrows

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Sunday Dec 10, 2017. 17:41

Mamelodi Sundowns secured a 1-0 win over Golden Arrows in an Absa Premiership match at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The win took the Brazilians to the top of the league standings, while Abafana Bes'thende moved down to ninth place.

It took only five minutes for Sundowns to break the deadlock after the Arrows defence was exposed.

Bangaly Soumahoro was the man, who punished the hosts as he hit the back of the net to make it 1-0 to Sundowns with a good finish.

It was nearly 1-1 five minutes later Kudakwashe Mahachi hit the woodwork as Arrows pushed for the equalizing goal.

Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana, who is a defensive midfielder by trade, was working tirelessly in the middle of the park for the visitors.

Percy Tau, the Sundowns attacker, unleashed a low hard drive on the stroke of half-time and Arrows goalkeeer Nkosingiphile Gumede collected at the second attempt.

The score was 1-0 to Sundowns during the half-time break following a lively first-half in the city of Durban.

Kekana forced a save from Gumede from a well-struck free-kick 11 minutes after the restart as the visitors looked to double their lead.

The visitors looked more lively after the hour-mark as they applied pressure on the Arrows defence in search of the equalizing goal.

Sibusiso Vilakazi set up his Sundowns team-mate Oupa Manyisa in the 73rd minute, but Gumede rushed out and denied the former Orlando Pirates captain.

Both teams searched for a late goal in the closing stages of the game, but they could not score and ultimately, Sundowns ran out 1-0 winners.

Arrows (0) 0
Sundowns (1) 1 (Soumahoro 5')

Arrows: Gumede, Mngwngwe, Cele, Magubane (Sibiya 55'), Dube. Mahachi, Mzava, Nkombelo, Ndwandwe (Jooste 79'), Lamola (Chideu 55'), Mutizwa.

Sundowns: Onyango, Langerman, Soumahoro, Morena, Madisha, Manyisa, Kekana, Mabunda, Vilakazi (Sekotlong 87'), Zwane (Zakri 78'), Tau (Arendse 93'+3).