GOLDEN ARROWS VS SUPERSPORT UTD | ABSA

Competition: Absa Premiership
Date: Sunday, 06 December 2008
Venue: King Zwelithini Stadium
Kick-off: 18h30

Golden Arrows suffered their second league defeat in a row as SuperSport United moved to the top of the Absa Premiership table with a 2-0 win at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

United looked the most dangerous throughout the half despite Arrows controlling the lions’ share of possession, especially when they attacked down the right flank with Rudi Isaacs.

The first chance of the game fell to Abafana Bes’thende in the tenth minute after a beautiful counter-attacking move; some quick passing and intelligent play allowed captain Kagisho Dikgacoi to fire a very powerful shot from just outside the 18-yard box. Unfortunately for Arrows his shot was straight at the keeper who held onto the stinging shot.

In the 13th minute SuperSport showed exactly how dangerous they could be down the right flank when Isaacs provided an inch perfect cross into the box that found Elias Pelembe unmarked. Pelembe didn’t have to move a muscle, he didn’t even have to jump, to meet the cross as he guided the ball into the corner of the net giving the keeper no chance, 1-0.

It was certainly a half for the defence of both sides who showed some real class to keep their opposing strikers out resulting in the only decent chances coming from long range efforts.

Hlompho Kekana pulled the best out of the Arrows keeper in the 35th minute when he fired a ferocious shot from 25 yards out that saw Helton Da Rocha diving full stretch to his left to tip the ball around the post for a corner-kick.

Then ten minutes later it was Kagisho Senamela’s turn to test the United keeper, Denis Onyango, who did brilliantly to keep out Senamela’s well driven 20-yard shot diving low to his right to tuck the ball around the post.

The men from Durban came out for the second half determined to try and find an equalizer as they laid siege on the United goal, constantly looking threatening on the counter-attack.

In the 51st minute Philani Shange found himself in the perfect place to level matters for his team after a glorious through ball from Dikgacoi put him through on goal and one-on-one with the keeper, but he completely miscued his shot which went woefully wide.

Arrows continued to control possession but couldn’t produce any clear cut opportunities in front of goal. Their counter-attacks were swift and smooth but the final product was continuously poor.

Senamela showed some real class in the 61st minute and nearly produced the goal of the season when he spotted Onyango off his line and attempted to lob him from the half way line. Luckily enough for Onyango he managed to sprawl back and tip the ball over the bar for a corner.

United coach Gavin hunt tried to sure matters up in the second half taking one of his strikers off in Brent Carelse and flooding the midfield in order to preserve his lead and hopefully go top of the Absa Premier League table.

Anthony Laffor sealed matters in the 90th minute when Kekana broke through the Arrows defense putting himself one-on-one with Da Rocha; he unselfishly laid the ball off to Laffor who put the ball into an empty net, 2-0.

With the win SuperSport United moved to the top of the Premiership table with 21 points.

Golden Arrows 0
Supersport United (1) 2 (Pelembe 13′, Laffor 90′)