GOLDEN ARROWS VS POLOKWANE CITY | ABSA

Competition: PSL
Date: Saturday ,08 February 2014
Venue: King Zwelethini Stadium
Kick-off: 15:30pm

Rudolph Bester snatched a dramatic injury-time winner for Lamontville Golden Arrows as they defeated Polokwane City 3-2 in their vital Absa Premiership clash at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Thanduyise Khuboni, making his 200th appearance for Abafana Bes’thende, converted a pair of penalties in the first half, before Bester grabbed the winner in the fourth minute of injury-time at the end of the game.
Puleng Tlolane had given the visitors the lead midway through the opening period. before Siphesihle Nzimande added the third penalty of the game in the dying seconds of that half.

Assistant coach Shaun Bartlett led the side from the bench with head coach Mark Harrison absent from the technical team today.

The 41-year-old goalkeeper Arthur Bartman also made his Golden Arrows debut, as did Zambian striker Festus Mbewe and Namibian defender Chris Katjiukua. Arrows started well and might have had the lead early on. Namibia international Deon Hotto was put through on goal by Mzuvukile Tom, but blasted his shot over the bar. Mbewe also missed a great opportunity, before Arrows were hit on the counter-attack by The Citizens.
Tlolane showed good pace and composure to beat Bartman and give his side the lead.

Then started a run of three penalties in 15 minutes from referee Victor Gomes. Vuyisile Ntombayithethi was fouled by Thapelo Tshilo in the area for the first and Khuboni calmly slotted home. Arrows had another when Sandile Sibande fouled Philani Shange in the box and skipper Khuboni kept his nerve once more to put his side in the lead.

But as time ticked away at the end of the first half, the visitors had a penalty of their own when Katjiukua was adjudged to have fouled Nzimande, who got up to take the spot-kick himself. His first effort was saved by Bartman, but Gomes ordered a retake and this time he converted.

The second half did not have quite the frenzy as the first as both sides settled down, and it looked as though the game would be heading for a 2-2 draw.

That was until the 94th minute when Nhlanhla Zothwane’s perfect throughball was clipped goalwards by bester beyond the advancing goalkeeper to send the Arrows players and bench into wild celebrations.
Next up for Abafana Bes’thende is an away trip to Free State Stars on February 15.

MATCH STATS
Lamontville Golden Arrows (2) 3 (Khuboni 32pen, 42pen, Bester 90)
Polokwane City (2) 2 (Tlolane 22, Nzimande 45pen)

Arrows: Bartman, S Zwane, Musonda, Ntombaythethi, Katjiukua, Hotto, Shange (Twala 71), Tom, Khuboni, Mbewe (Zothwane 88), Ntuli (Bester 72)

City: Marumo, Molekwane, Lichaba, Mngqibisa, Thilo, Sibande, Moyana (Gopane 66), Jembula (Mdluli 68), Nzimande, Tlolane, Maluleke (Mncwango 81)