AFRICAN WARRIORS VS GOLDEN ARROWS | NFD

Competition: NFD
Date: Saturday, 28 February 2015
Venue: Charles Mopeli Stadium
Kick-off: 15h30

Abafana Bes’thende have played to a goalless draw against African Warriors in the Free States Charles Mopeli Stadium this afternoon.

The first half of the game started with Warriors going on the attack, leaving Mbaeva to have his first save of the game within the first 3 minutes of kick-off. The Freestate team kept the pressure when, 2 minutes later, off a corner, it was Cele who had to clear the ball away to ensure they did not score. Abafana Bes’thende came back in the 8th minute with their first scoring opportunity, but the shot from Khenyeza was wide of the goals. It was only in the 20th minute again that African Warriors attacked again, playing a great combination into the box. Mbaeva had to make a great double save to ensure the home team remained goal-less.

Golden Arrows were awarded an opportunity when Sibeko was fouled just outside the box, Khenyeza took the free-kick, but the Warriors goal keeper managed to hold onto it, denying the team.

The remainder of the half was a battle fought midfield, with each team trying to make the break through to get on the board. This however seemed to set the tempo for the second half of the game and neither side had managed to get any score before the half time whistle.

The second half was not kind on either side either. Both teams came out and it was again a midfield battle for possession and the opportunities to score. Lamontville Golden Arrows had an opportunity when some dynamic play saw Mkhize play the ball to Nxumalo, who played it up to Cele. Cele then played a great throught ball into the box and Seth Parusnath was one on one with the keeper, but his shot was wide off target.

Both teams played a intensly defensive game today, and made it extrememly difficult for each other to create the number of scoring opportunities that would allow for a high scoring game. Abafana Bes’thende displayed some mettle in their defence when they had to clear the ball of the line on two separate occasions.

Lamontville Golden Arrows will now take on Santos in a mid-week game on Wednesday afternoon at Athlone Stadium.