AMAZULU FC VS GOLDEN ARROWS | ABSA

Competition: Absa Premiership
Date: Sunday, 30 September 2009
Venue: Chatsworth Stadium
Kick-off: 19h:30

AmaZulu coach Neil Tovey’s disastrous season continues. His team went down 1-0 to Golden Arrows at the Chatsworth Stadium on Wednesday night in an Absa Premiership match.

Richard Henyekane scored the only goal of the game to give Arrows their third victory against AmaZulu this season. In the MTN8 cup two-legged semifinals Arrows beat their Durban rivals in both games. AmaZulu settled quickly and did all the attacking in the opening stages of the match and showed their intentions early on when Petros Zwane came close to scoring in the seventh minute.

Arrows keeper Thulasizwe Khuzwayo was on hand to deny the AmaZulu player with a great save, stretching to his right to tip the ball around the post for a corner-kick.

The keeper was called into action two minutes later when he was forced to spread himself wide to deny Ayanda Dlamini in a one-on-one situation.

Abafana Bes’thende managed to maintain the pressure and after 22 minutes surged forward. AmaZulu defender Pere Ariweriyai fouled Nhlanhla Zothwane inside the big box and the referee did not hesitate to point to the penalty spot.

Arrows top marksman Henyekane made no mistake from the spot to put his side in front. Despite going behind, AmaZulu still pressed forward and were unlucky not to draw level in the 24th minute. Again Khuzwayo was at his best diving full stretch to his left to block a 20-yard shot from Dlamini.

The last 15 minutes of the half did see Arrows dominating play, but their creativity in midfield was wasted by the wayward shooting.

At the start of the second stanza Abafana Bes’thende showed more vigour and they almost doubled their lead four minutes after the break. Koffi Tanoh forced keeper Nicolas Grinde to make an excellent save with a stunning drive from outside the box.

AmaZulu struggled to get back in to the game as the visitors took firm control of the midfield and stifled their opponents creativity.

Tovey’s men did come agonisingly close to salvaging a point three minutes from time. Former Black Leopards striker Myron Shongwe rose above the Arrows defence to head home a Marc Van Heerden cross but it hit the woodwork..

This was AmaZulu’s sixth defeat of the season and they are bottom of the Premiership table with only five points.

Golden Arrows (1) 1 (R. Henyekane 23’ pen)

AmaZulu: (4-4-2) Gindre; Biyela, Ariweriyai, Sangweni, van Heerden; N. Zwane (Ngxabi 90’), Bukasa, Sikhakhane (S. Dlamini), Hadebe; Ngwenya, A. Dlamini (Shongwe 66’)

Arrows: (4-4-2) Khuzwayo; J. Henyekane, Musonda, Sangweni, Tom, S Zwane, Khuboni, Shange (Gabuza 93’), Zothwane, Tanoh (Manqana 59’), R. Henyekane