GOLDEN ARROWS VS ORLANDO PIRATES | ABSA

Competition: PSL
Date: Saturday,10 May 2014
Venue: Moses Madhiba Stadium
Kick-off: 15:00pm

Lamontville Golden Arrows closed their season with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Orlando Pirates at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.

Abafana Bes’thende had already been relegated before the fixture but had hoped to end their campaign with the big scalp of the Soweto giants.

But having taken the lead early through Bongi Ntuli, Arrows feel behind when Kermit Erasmus and Sifiso Myeni netted either side of halftime, and Mpho Makola added a third late on.

Unlucky Arrows missed a penalty towards the end of the game, but showed plenty of fight in a game in which the scoreline does not reflect the play.

Arrows co-coaches Shaun Bartlett and Bheka Phakathi handed a debut to 19-year-old midfielder Sibusiso Sibeko, while defender Matome Mathiane was also given a first start.

Arrows were ahead on five minutes as goalkeeper Arthur Bartman’s long ball was not dealt with by Pirates defender Rooi Mahamutsa and Ntuli used his pace to get onto the ball and supply an excellent finish.
It had looked relatively comfortable for the home side until the half-hour mark when Pirates striker Erasmus got on the end of a Daine Klate pass and beat Bartman.

And the visitors took the lead on 51 minutes when Mpho Makola’s brilliant through-ball was slotted home by Myeni.

Arrows were handed a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty with 10 minutes to go, but Ntuli’s effort was saved by Senzo Meyiwa in the Pirates goal and he blasted the rebound over the bar.

MATCH STATS
Lamontville Golden Arrows (1) 1 (Ntuli 5’)
Orlando Pirates (1) 3 (Erasmus 30’, Myeni 51’, Makola 75’)

Arrows: Bartman, S Zwane, Mathiane, Sibeko, N Cele, Bester (Sibiya 53’), Ntuli, Mdunge, Sikhakhane, Mngwengwe (Ntombayithethi 46’), C Katongo (Polelo 66’)
Pirates: Meyiwa, Gumede, Matlaba, Lekgwathi, Mahamutsa, Nyauza, Manyisa, Myeni (Mabena 56’), Makola, Erasmus (Majoro 76’), Klate (Masuku 46’).