GOLDEN ARROWS VS MP BLACK ACES | ABSA

Competition: Absa Premiership
Date: Sunday, 02 December 2009
Venue: Chatsworth Stadium
Kick-off: 15h30

Golden Arrows midfielder Njabulo Manqana scored a late winner to hand his side a 2-1 win over Mpumalanga Black Aces in an Absa Premiership match played at the Chatsworth Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

Aces, who played most of the game with ten men after the early dismissal of Gilbert Mushangazhike, though they had rescued a point when Clifford Mulenga’s late penalty had cancelled out Thanduyise Khuboni’s opening goal. But Manqana struck a beauty late on to condemn AmaZayoni to their tenth defeat of the season.

Aces were dealt a major blow in just the fifth minute of the match when veteran striker Mushangazhike was shown a straight red card for a foul on Philani Shange. The Arrows attacking midfielder had to be replaced soon after, as striker Koffi Tanoh entered the fray for the home side.

Abafana Bes’thende proceeded to dominate their visitors thanks to their numerical advantage, but they were most restricted to long range efforts in the first half – which were no trouble for goalkeeper Osacr Ramogadi – thanks to some solid defending.

However, the KwaZulu-Natal team should taken the lead just past the midway point of the first half when Joseph Musonda’s cross found the head of Ntlantla Zothwane, only for the midfielder to direct his effort straight at the keeper.

AmaZayoni, though down a man, still had the potential to cause Arrows trouble up front and Zambian attacker Clifford Mulenga fired a warning shot with a well-struck 30 metre effort in the 35th minute that forced Thulasizwe Khuzwayo into a good parrying save.

Two minutes later Arrows’ Thanduyise Khuboni had a clear shooting chance from the edge of the penalty area but he blazed his effort over the crossbar. The home team dialed up the pressure as half time approached but they were unable to break the deadlock before the interval.

Aces started the second half brightly, creating a couple of opportunities for Nkosinathi Ogle and Mulenga, but Arrows soon wrestled the initiative back and Tanoh should have given his side the lead on 53 minutes, shooting wide from just 12 yards out.

However, Abafana Bes’thende did finally break the deadlock in the 58th minute, with Khuboni firing the ball past Ramogadi after a good cross by left-back Mzuvukile Tom.

Aces, though, didn’t let their heads drop and very nearly drew level just four minutes after going behind when Lindokuhle Mbatha’s long range drive stung the hands of Khuzwayo.

Arrows should have doubled their lead with just over 20 minutes to play when substitute Richard Henyekane shot wide from close range with one of his very first touches of the ball.

AmaZayoni substitute Mpho Maleka almost made Henyekane pay for his miss, twice coming close to drawing the visitors level in the 78th and 79th minutes.

Aces did finally get their reward for a gallant performance when the referee awarded them a penalty in the 83rd minute after a foul on Maleka from Musa Bilankulu. Mulenga converted the spot kick to make it 1-1.

The Mpumalanga side then nearly snatched a second goal just three minutes later when Lehumo Itshegetseng headed just wide of the target from a corner kick.

But they were left heartbroken when Njabulo Manqana popped up in injury time to score a stunning long range goal that handed Arrows a 2-1 victory.

The result sees Golden Arrows, temporarily at least, move up to ninth on the log, while Aces remain second from bottom and have given last-placed Jomo Cosmos the chance to gain some ground on them.

Golden Arrows (0) 2 (Khuboni 58’, Manqana 90’)
MP Black Aces (0) 1 (Mulenga 83’ pen)

Arrows: (4-5-1) Khuzwayo; Zwane, Musonda, Bilankulu, Tom; Shange (Tanoh 10’ [Mkhize 75’]), Khuboni, Biyela (R. Henyekane 68’), Zothwane, Manqana; Gabuza

Aces: (4-4-2) Ramogadi; October, Nobula, Mwamba Musasa, Lekgothoane; Ogle (Gilbert 64’), Themba, Mbatha (Maleka 74’), Masondo (Itshegetseng 37’); Mulenga, Mushangazhike.