Arrows grab vital win over struggling Leopards

LAMONTVILLE Golden Arrows finally ended their eight game winless streak in all the competitions yesterday afternoon as they defeated Black Leopards to earn their first victory at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu this season.

Knox Mutizwa’s strike was the difference for Abafana Bes’thende.

The victory was their second in the season. The first win came against Maritzburg United in the opening fixture of the season at Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg.

Leopards played like a team that was content with a point. They were defending deep in their half and hoping to catch Arrows on the break.

Abafana Bes’thende were piling on the pressure with Siboniso Conco a to menace for the Limpopo based side with his pace and tricks.

The goal finally came for Arrows in the 66th minutes when Mutizwa broke the deadlock following a good work done by Conco on the righ.

Mutizwa showed composure and calmness to put his side in the lead. It was a deserving for Abafana Bes’thende who kept on pushing.

Leopards are still winless away from home.

They have collected two points out of the possible 12 and coach, Joel Masutha, will be hoping to use this Fifa break to conjure up a winning formula on the road.

Meanwhile, Baroka FC and SuperSport United shared the spoils in a goalless Premiership match played at the Peter Mokaba Stadium yesterday.

It was a match of half-chances and missed opportunities for both sides.

The more fancied SuperSport United shaded the contest for possession, but Kaitano Tembo’s players could not do much with the ball at their feet.

The goalkeepers, Ronwen Williams (SuperSport) and Elvis Chipezeze (Baroka) did not have much to do, but when called upon did not put a foot wrong.

Aubrey Modiba had one of the few chances in the first half, but his header was little threat to Chipezeze’s goal.

Baroka created a good chance midway through the first stanza, but there was no-one to latch onto a pass into the box by Theriso Mapheto.

Chipezeze saved well in the 39th minute after a stinging shot from Ghampani Lungu and shortly thereafter Williams did well to keep Thabo Moseki out.

Not much changed in the second half with the ball moving from one side of the field to the other, but without much goalmouth action.

The experienced SuperSport defenders Morgan Gould and Clayton Daniels easily took care of anything that Baroka threw at them. Onkabetse Makgantai, Thabo Moketsi and Talent Chawaphiwa ran hard, but it was in the final third that they often let themselves down.