SuperSport United will be bidding to close the gap on leaders Mamelodi Sundowns in the DStv Premiership when they travel to Golden Arrows on Saturday afternoon.
DStv Premiership
Result: Golden Arrows 2-1 SuperSport United
Date: 07 January 2023
Venue: Princes Magogo Stadium
SuperSport made only one enforced change to the side that edged Cape Town City, as Siyabonga Nhlapo took the place of the injured Thatayaone Ditlhokwe.
Arrows, meanwhile, gave debuts to new signings Sicelokuhle Hlatshwayo and Ntsako Makhubela, who was resigned from Orlando Pirates on loan.
Abafana Bes'thende had a bright start and were awarded 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, who did not have much to do.
Arrows were patient, looking 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 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.
Here's how they lined up:
Golden Arrows: 36. Mlungwana, 27. Nxadi, 22. Hlatshwayo, 37. Ndlovu, 3. Lunga, 24. Dlamini, 23. Dube, 13. Mmodi, 8. Makhubela, 11. Sibiya, 18. Mutizwa
Subs: 28. Mbatha, 35. Mantshiyane, 5. Shitolo, 19. Magawana, 25. Nkosi, 26. Magubane, 9. Moon, 2. Gumbi
SuperSport United: 20. Goss, 18. Nhlapo, 25. Fleurs, 37. Johannes, 16. Bhasera, 28. Maswanganyi, 15. Ndlovu, 23. Margeman, 17. Lungu, 40. Maseko, 7. Grobler.
Subs: 33. Pule, 43. Rapoo, 4. Kewuti, 26. Donn, 9. Rayners, 11. Ngoma, 12. Webber, 24. Sibanyoni, 13. Gabuza
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