Mokoena’s late stunner sinks Arrows as Sundowns pull away from Pirates

Published on by

Mokoena’s late stunner sinks Arrows as Sundowns pull away from Pirates
Mamelodi Sundowns players Fawaaz Basadien and Teboho Mokoena celebrate a goal against AmaZulu FC. Image: SuperSport

Mamelodi Sundowns surged to the top of the Betway Premiership table with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Golden Arrows at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday.

Siyanda Ndlovu gave Sundowns an early lead against his former club, but Junior Dion equalised for the hosts with just 15 minutes remaining. Just as the match seemed destined for a draw, Teboho Mokoena produced a moment of magic to snatch all three points for the visitors.

Mamelodi Sundowns celebrate
Mamelodi Sundowns celebrate their win over Golden Arrows. Image: Mamelodi Sundowns

In contrast to their fiery MTN8 semi-final encounter last week, both teams began the match cautiously, leading to a quiet opening period. The first real chance fell to Arrows’ Dion, whose powerful long-range shot forced a sharp save from Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

Ndlovu shows no mercy to ex-side

The Brazilians controlled possession, patiently probing for a weakness in the disciplined Arrows defence, which initially held firm and denied any clear-cut opportunities.

However, Sundowns’ persistence was rewarded in the 14th minute. Ndlovu broke the deadlock, scoring his first goal for the club but respectfully muted his celebration against the team he once played for.

Golden Arrows playing against Mamelodi Sundowns in the PSL.
Golden Arrows playing against Mamelodi Sundowns in the PSL. Image: Golden Arrows

The Tshwane giants maintained their dominance after the goal, while Arrows looked to hit back on the counter-attack. Sundowns nearly doubled their advantage in the 28th minute when Tashreeq Matthews pounced on a defensive error, but he failed to convert the chance, leaving the score at 1-0 heading into halftime.

Golden Arrows emerged for the second half with renewed attacking purpose in their quest for an equaliser. They nearly found it when Brayan Leon broke through for a one-on-one with goalkeeper Thakasani Mbanjwa, but the Arrows keeper made a crucial save to keep his side in the game.

Mokoena secures victory for Sundowns

Sundowns’ defence, which has shown fragility in recent matches, appeared vulnerable once more. Arrows capitalised, applying a sustained period of pressure that pinned the visitors deep in their own territory.

Grant Kekana of Mamelodi Sundowns challenges Junior Dion of Golden Arrows in the MTN8.
Grant Kekana of Mamelodi Sundowns challenges Junior Dion of Golden Arrows in the MTN8. Image: Mamelodi Sundowns

The home side’s relentless push finally paid off when Philani Khumalo set up Junior Dion, who slotted home the equaliser.

With the momentum shifted, it appeared the spoils would be shared. However, Mokoena had other ideas, delivering a stunning late winner when he curled in from outside the box to secure a dramatic victory for Sundowns.

Victory sees Sundowns pull away from Orlando Pirates as they now lead the standings with 16 points from six games, one more than the Buccaneers.

<!-- Author Start -->Joel Oliver<!-- Author End -->

Joel Oliver

Author

Joel Oliver is a sports journalist covering South Africa, with 16 years in sports media and a Bachelor's Degree in Communication. Focused on football analysis and responsible gambling, his work has appeared on GOAL and Pulse Sports Kenya, and he is a regular football analyst on TV and radio.

You May Also Like