MAMELODI SUNDOWNS VS GOLDEN ARROWS | ABSA

Competition: PSL
Date: Sunday, 5 March 2010
Venue: Lucas Moripe Stadium
Kick-off: 15:30pm

Lamontville Golden Arrows will count themselves a little unlucky after going down 3-2 to Mamelodi Sundowns in their Absa Premiership clash at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Abafana Bes’thende had looked out of the game after Method Mwanjale and Katlego Mphela (two) scored to give The Brazilians a 3-0 lead, but two goals in two minutes from Collins Mbesuma and a Thapelo Tshilo own goal gave the visitors some hope.

And Mbesuma might have snatched a point at the death as Sundowns ended the game pinned in their own half, but it was not to be for Zoran Filipovic’s side.

Sundowns had the first chance as Mphela was teed-up by Elias Pelembe, but the Bafana Bafana striker missed his chance.

Arrows went close went Musa Bilankulu put his headed chance from a free-kick wide and Mbesuma had another effort for the visitors that went off target.

Abafana Bes’thende goalkeeper Thulasizwe Khuzwayo then pulled off a number of fine saves as he kept out efforts from former Arrows stars Richard Henyekane and Papi Zothwane, as well as Esrom Nyandoro. Pelembe also missed a simple opportunity as Sundowns began to take control of the game.

But Arrows were a constant threat on the break and after Mbesuma had shot wide when well-placed, Siyanda Zwane saw his effort saved by home goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands.

The home side were ahead in first half injury-time though as Zimbabwean Mwanjale scored after great play from Pelembe.

It was a sucker-punch for the visitors just before the break and it got worse two minutes after the restart when Mphela took his tally for the season to double-figures as he made it 2-0 to Sundowns.

Sandilands pulled off a miraculous save to deny Songwe Chalwe as Arrows searched for a way back into the game, while substitute Siyabonga Nkosi headed wide from Chalwe’s delivery.

The game looked to be dead and buried when Mphela netted his second from a dubious penalty award after an alleged handball in the Arrows box, but then the comeback started.

First Mbesuma scored with a deflected shot from the edge of the area that left Sandilands with no chance to make the score 3-1.

And then the deficit was cut to just a single goal as Njabulo Manqana’s cross was deflected into his own net by Sundowns defender Thapelo Tshilo with seven minutes left to play.

Mbesuma had a great chance for a last-minute equaliser, but he failed to control the ball at the vital moment and the scrambling Sundowns defence were able to clear.

Arrows next match is in the Nedbank Cup, when they travel to SuperSport United in the first round on March 9.

MATCH STATS
Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 3 (Mwanjale 45′, Mphela 47′, 73’pen)
Lamontville Golden Arrows (0) 2 (Mbesuma 81′, Tshilo 83’og)

Sundowns: Wayne Sandilands, Siyanda Xulu, Method Mwanjale, Eduardo Ferreira (Thapelo Tshilo 69′), Sibusiso Khumalo, Elias Pelembe, Esrom Nyandoro, Lionel Mutizwa (Teko Modise 65′), Papi Zothwane, Richard Henyekane (Nyasha Mushekwi 46′), Katlego Mphela

Arrows: Thulasizwe Khuzwayo, Siyanda Zwane, Musa Bilankulu (Vusumuzi Vilakazi 74′), Joseph Musonda, Mzuvukile Tom, Jabulani Nene, Ntlantla Zothwane (Njabulo Manqana 56′), Thanduyise Khuboni, Philani Shange (Siyabonga Nkosi 46′), Songwe Chalwe, Collins Mbesuma