Mamelodi Sundowns preserved their unbeaten record in the Betway Premiership with a late 2-1 victory over Lamontville Golden Arrows at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday.
Siyanda Ndlovu gave the visitors an early lead before Golden Arrows drew level in the second half, but Teboho Mokoena produced a decisive strike on the stroke of full-time to give Sundowns all three points.
The result completed a dramatic afternoon for the Brazilians, who had to withstand sustained pressure from the home side before eventually finding a late winner.
Sundowns began positively and nearly created an early opportunity when Marcelo Allende attempted to find Ndlovu on the right. The Arrows goalkeeper, however, managed to intercept the ball.
The hosts responded quickly and came close to taking advantage of an error in the Sundowns defence in the sixth minute. After the visitors failed to clear the danger, Arrows produced a shot which forced goalkeeper Ronwen Williams into a diving save.
Sundowns then took control of the scoring.
Fourteen minutes into the match, Ndlovu produced an excellent finish to put the visitors ahead. A spell of possession in the final third ended with Tashreeq Matthews sending the ball across the face of goal, where Ndlovu arrived to direct his finish towards the far post.
Arrows were given another opportunity to regain momentum midway through the first half, but Sundowns continued to create chances at the other end.
In the 26th minute, an attempted clearance by the Arrows goalkeeper was intercepted by Cassius Mailula, who passed the ball to Matthews. The forward tried to increase Sundowns’ advantage but his attempt narrowly missed the target.
Three minutes later, Williams launched a pass from the other half of the pitch towards Matthews. The attacker found himself with another promising chance, but the Arrows goalkeeper reacted quickly to deny him.
The home side also created opportunities before the break, with two efforts being comfortably dealt with by Williams.
Arrows came particularly close to an equaliser just before half-time. An attack from the left produced two attempts in quick succession, but Williams was able to prevent both from finding the net.
Sundowns therefore went into the interval with their narrow advantage intact.
Golden Arrows looked determined to change the situation after the restart and immediately searched for an equaliser, although their first attempt of the second half went wide.
Brayan Leon then threatened in the 50th minute after making a powerful run towards goal. Williams responded by advancing from his line to make the save.
Five minutes later, Leon again attempted to make an impact from the left flank, but his effort was cleared.
The pressure eventually paid off for the hosts in the 76th minute when Arrows found the equaliser.
Sundowns immediately attempted to regain their lead. Just two minutes after Arrows had levelled, Mokoena came close with a shot that narrowly missed the target.
The midfielder would not be denied for long.
With the match approaching full-time, Mokoena finally restored Sundowns’ advantage with an impressive effort from the edge of the penalty area.
The late goal gave the visitors a 2-1 lead and put them within touching distance of another three points.
Sundowns then had an opportunity to make the result more comfortable when substitute Iqraam Rayners attempted to add a third. His effort beat the goalkeeper but struck the crossbar instead.
The Brazilians continued to search for another goal in the closing moments, but no further breakthrough came.
Sundowns ultimately held on for a 2-1 victory, securing the three points they had travelled to KwaZulu-Natal to collect.
Ndlovu’s first-half finish had initially put the visitors in control, but Golden Arrows’ second-half equaliser ensured the match remained in doubt until the final moments.
Mokoena’s late intervention proved decisive, allowing Sundowns to maintain their unbeaten start to the Betway Premiership season.
For Arrows, the defeat came after a determined second-half effort that saw them recover from an early deficit and eventually draw level.
Williams’ saves were also crucial to Sundowns’ success, particularly during the closing stages of the first half and in the early part of the second.
The visitors ultimately had to rely on a moment of individual quality from Mokoena to settle the contest.
With the final whistle confirming the 2-1 scoreline, Sundowns returned from the King Zwelithini Stadium with three points and their unbeaten run still intact.
