Golden Arrows piled more misery on relegation-threatened Swallows FC after securing a 1-0 win at the Dobsonville Stadium on Friday night.
DStv Premiership
Result: Swallows FC 0-1 Golden Arrows
Date: 17 March 2023
Venue: Dobsonville Stadium
The Dube Birds handed a debut to Nigerian goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, while Gregory Damons and Mbulelo Wambi were also recalled after the big loss to Orlando Pirates two weeks ago.
Arrows, meanwhile, recalled goalkeeper Sifiso Mlungwana following the Nedbank Cup exit last weekend, as Saziso Magawana and Nduduzo Sibiya were also recalled by the coaching staff.
The KwaZulu-Natal side got off to the perfect start when Pule Mmodi opened the scoring in the 15th minute with his seventh league goal of the campaign after finding the back of the net from range.
Swallows had the ball in the back of the net on 30 minutes when Lindokuhle Mtshali fired past Mlungwana, however, celebrations were cut short after the forward was flagged for offside.
Akpeyi was called into action shortly before the break, with the Nigerian shot-stopper producing a good save to keep out Mmodi's effort as Swallows went into the break trailing by one goal.
Swallows opted for a triple change at the start of the second half, as Evans Rusike, Tawanda Macheke and Tlakusani Mthethwa replaced Wambi, Malinga and Sasman.
The visitors managed to carve out a couple chances in the opening 15 minutes of the second stanza, as Siyavuya Ndlovu headed wide from Knox Mutizwa's cross before Sibiya went close with a strike of his own.
Mlungwana came to Arrows' rescue once again on 72 minutes, with the shot-stopper producing another fine save to keep out Mtshali's close-range effort as the hosts began to up the tempo.
The Dube Birds, however, would struggled to break down the Arrows defence in the latter stages of the second half as they slumped to their 11th defeat of the league campaign.
Meanwhile, Arrows have climbed to tenth spot, one point adrift of the top eight with six games left of the league season.
Here's how they lined up:
Swallows: 55. Akpeyi, 4. Allan, 44. Mngonyama, 34. Sait, 18. Damons, 28. Sasman, 7. Mtshali, 47. Wambi, 38. Uromi, 66. Sam, 26. Malinga
Subs: 31. Mbanjwa, 6. Mthethwa, 23. Shwabula, 2. Sibiya, 32. Lukhubeni, 19. Rusike, 70. Macheke, 20. Patjie, 39. Matsheke
Golden Arrows: 36. Mlungwana, 37. Ndlovu, 24. Dlamini, 35. Mantshiyane, 30. Cele, 7. Magawana, 27. Nxadi, 11. Sibiya, 13. Mmodi, 8. Makhubela, 18. Mutizwa
Subs: 32. Gumede, 25. Nkosi, 31. Mhlongo, 4. Khumalo, 26. Magubane, 2. Gumbi, 3. Lunga, 22. Hlatshwayo, 9. Moon
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