On Saturday, SuperSport United traveled to the Princes Magogo Stadium to take on Golden Arrows in the DStv Premiership. Arrows gave debuts to new signings Sicelokuhle Hlatshwayo and Ntsako Makhubela, while SuperSport made one enforced change to the side that edged Cape Town City, as Siyabonga Nhlapo took the place of the injured Thatayaone Ditlhokwe.
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Abafana Bes’thende had a bright start and were awarded a penalty on 17 minutes for a handball by Nhlapo in the box. Nduduzo Sibiya’s spot-kick was initially saved by goalkeeper Ricardo Goss, who spilled his effort and Sibiya reacted the quickest to the rebound to give Arrows the lead.
Gavin Hunt’s charges were fired up to get back into the game but were struggling to test goalkeeper Sifiso Mlungwana. Arrows were patient, looking for chances on counter-attacks and Knox Mutizwa eventually doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time with a low strike past Goss after he was teed up by Lungelo Dube from a transition.
Hunt made an attacking change at halftime, as Thabang Sibanyoni replaced Thapelo Maseko to partner Bradley Grobler upfront. Working their way back into the game, the two United strikers combined well on 67 minutes after Grobler latched onto a knockdown by Sibanyoni on the edge of the box and connected with a volley that missed narrowly wide.
Abafana Bes’thende were happy to sit back and attack from transitions and in the last quarter of an hour, they changed the shape of their attack to suit a direct forward, as Ryan Moon replaced Makhubela. SuperSport’s pressure finally paid off with five minutes remaining after Sibanyoni reduced the deficit to 2-1 with a towering header at the back post from a short corner delivered by Grant Margeman.
The visitors had the momentum in the dying minutes and Sibanyoni had a chance to snatch the equaliser in stoppage time after another looping cross at the back post, but his header sailed over the bar and Arrows held on to end SuperSport’s six-game unbeaten streak.
