Mamelodi Sundowns returned to winning ways after claiming a narrow 1-0 victory over Golden Arrows at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Wednesday evening, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.
Lebohang Maboe continued his fine form for Sundowns after scoring the only goal of the game, which saw the Brazilians claim all three points away from home as they remain unbeaten in the Absa Premiership.
The home side came out the better side and should have taken the lead after five minutes, but Lerato Lamola failed to slot the ball into an empty net after Ricardo Nascimento’s poor header evaded Reyaad Pieterse, who started his second game for Sundowns.
The Brazilians were still trying to find their rhythm after the first quarter of an hour, while Arrows were waiting to pounce on the counter-attack.
Toni Silva had a good opportunity to put his side ahead in the 30th minute, but the Sundowns attacker blazed his volley into the side-netting.
Sundowns started gaining their momentum as the game went on and saw more possession of the ball while Arrows were forced to sit back and soak up the pressure from the defending Absa Premiership champions.
With eight minutes to the half-time interval, Sibusisu Vilakazi nearly broke the deadlock when he found space inside the box before unleashing his strike, but his effort sailed wide of the target.
However, Sundowns’ persistence finally paid off when Maboe found the back of the net from inside the area against the run of play as they went into the half-time break with a 1-0 lead over Abafana Bes’thende.
The Brazilians picked up where they left off by keeping the pressure on Arrows early in the second half as Phakamani Mahlambi tested Arrows goalkeeper Nkosingiphile Gumede with his attempt, but it flew over the bar.
Arrows coach Clinton Larsen opted for a double change when he introduced Wayde Jooste and Sandile Zuke for Thabo Molefe and Danny Venter respectively, while Pitso Mosimane replaced Silva with Jose Ali Meza.
Meza nearly doubled his side’s lead shortly after coming on, but Arrows shot-stopper Gumede was on hand to deny the substitute’s strike.
Mosimane’s side were happy enough to sit back and soak up the pressure from Arrows with 15 minutes until the final whistle, looking to catch Abafana Bes’thende on the counter.
The home side pressed forward in the closing stages of the game in search of an equalising goal, but Sundowns managed to hold on to their 1-0 lead until the final whistle to claim maximum points at the Princess Magogo Stadium.
Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
