Amakhosi smiling as Arrows shock Sundowns

A howler from Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Dennis Onyango sparked a second-half turnaround by Golden Arrows as they claimed a deserved 3-2 Premiership victory in torrential rain at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Sunday.

The result completed the perfect weekend for league leaders Kaizer Chiefs‚ who beat Orlando Pirates 3-2 on Saturday‚ and then watched as their title challengers, Sundowns and Bidvest Wits, both lost.

Chiefs now have a 10-point lead over second-placed Sundowns‚ who have a game in hand‚ but have looked sluggish in recent matches.

Thapelo Morena scored his first league goal since January to hand the Brazilians a deserved first-half lead‚ but after Onyango spilt Danny Phiri’s shot into his own goal‚ two further strikes from Knox Mutizwa secured the three points for Arrows.

Andile Jali netted a late goal for Sundowns to set up a grandstand finish‚ but they could not do enough to force an equaliser.

The Durban-based side remain unbeaten at home this season‚ a record that will be tested when the sides meet again in their next fixture after the Fifa international break as Golden Arrows host Sundowns in their Telkom Knockout semifinal on November 23.

Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane handed a first Premiership start to forward Sphelele Mkhulise‚ while he also restored Rivaldo Coetzee to the midfield for a first league start in almost three months.

Sundowns were the better side in the opening half, but Morena chose to shoot when he might have crossed for Mauricio Affonso in the middle of the box‚ Edmore Sibanda saving the low skidding shot with his leg in the Golden Arrows goal.

Sundowns hit the front five minutes before the break as Tebogo Langerman surged into the box on the left. Morena turned his low cross home.

Both teams battled with the conditions early in the second period as the sodden pitch made passing difficult. Mutizwa headed over from a corner‚ before Onyango’s howler handed the home side the leveller.

Phiri rifled in a shot that was straight at the Uganda international‚ who could not hold on as the ball trickled into the goal between his legs.

The turnaround was complete when Mutizwa got on the end of Lunga’s cross and his shot back across goal eluded Onyango to nestle in the far corner.

Mutizwa added a third with 10 minutes remaining.