SuperSport drill Arrows, Pirates disappoint
lacked the required composure to test Arrows’ shot-stopper, Nkosingiphile Gumede, between the sticks.
Clinton Larsen on the other hand, was very composed in his dugout. His side was exerting enough pressure up front in search for an opener.
But they also suffered from the same Achilles Heel as their host. They couldn’t find the back of the net. The only time Larsen bellowed instructions onto the pitch was when they were forced to trek back to defend.
They held their line pretty well, each time Matsatsantsa tried to catch them on the break.
In the second period though, Larsen witnessed what proved to be a horror of a performance from his side’s defensive line. Arrows conceded the first two goals of the match in a space of a minute.
Reneilwe Letsolonyane was the first to put his name on the scoresheet. Then super-sub Thusa Phala followed. Phala had come on in the beginning of the second period for Bafana Bafana international Mandla Masango, who had joined the club in this past transfer window on a loan deal from Randers FC.
Phala’s presence on the pitch changed the complexion of the game as he forced the opposition to play defensively deep with his presence up front.
Chiukepo Msowoya scored an own-goal, following a superb delivery from a set piece on the near side by Thabo Mnyamane, while both Alexandra Cole and Morgan Gould wrapped things up with a goal each for the home side.
Arrows could only score two goals from the encounter, thanks to superb finishes by both Kudakwashe Mahachi and Lerato Lamola respectively. Mahachi scored a beauty of a lob shot to beat Reyaad Pieterse between the sticks, while Lamola slotted it underneath him, as Pieterse left his line to make what was an attempted save.
In Bloemfontein, Themba Zwane came from the bench to take Sundowns to the top half of the league with a 1-0 win over Bloemfontein Celtic as the Brazilians continue playing catch-up in the Absa Premiership.
The midfielder has struggled to be a consistent figure in the Brazilians’ starting line-up, but when he comes from the bench he changes the game.
He did that last night at the Dr Molemela Stadium to help Sundowns get maximum points in a match that looked destined to end in a draw.
Zwane showed great composure in the 78th minute to beat Vusi Shikweni and Wandisile Letlabika before putting the ball past Patrick Tignyemb.
He then ensured that Sundowns didn’t slip-up towards the end with a goal line clearance that had many of the Celtic fans believing that they were denied a legitimate goal.
Orlando Pirates were poor at Platinum Stars with the hosts tallying three shots on target to one from the Pirates in a dull 0-0 draw.
The positives were that Dikwena have stopped the rot and are improving from their worst possible start yet as they look to claw their way out of the relegation quagmire. To hold the Buccaneers to a goalless draw is a bit of a victory.
But Pirates’ title hopes are slowly slipping away as they failed to win in their sixth successive match in all competitions.
At Polokwane City, Maritzburg’s Roger de Sa notched up a 1-1 draw in his first outing as manager for the Midlands outfit.
The Team of Choice looked to be on course for all three points when Mohau Mokate put them ahead, but a late penalty from Jabulani Maluleke ensured Rise and Shine claimed a share of the spoils.