Manqoba Stops Downs’ Winning Run

Manqoba Mngqithi’s Golden Arrows ended Mamelodi Sundowns’ 5-match winning run, holding them to a 1-1 draw at the Mpumalanga Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The game in KZN was Mngqithi’s first since parting ways with the defending champions in December last year. His Arrows showed intention to score early on dominating the opening 10 minutes with four chances in that period.

• ALSO READ: Pirates Close Gap On Sundowns
• Mngqithi Makes Sensational Return To Coaching

Captain Gladwin Shitolo and Olwethu Ncube missed targets in the opening two minutes while Ryan Moon saw his attempt saved by Dennis Onyango and Nqobeko Dlamini’s long range pass was also off target.

Sundowns came to the party after the 10^th minute with Peter Shalulile missing two chances. In the 18^th minute Lucas Ribeiro saw the Arrows keeper out of position and took a shot from his own half however Isima Watenga did well to save the ball.

Just after the half-hour mark the home side won a set-piece, Sbonelo Cele sent it to Keenan Phillips who opened the scoring with his head.

The lead did not be too long as Phillips became the villain and handled an Aubrey Modiba ball in his box conceding a penalty. Ribeiro stepped up and converted a panenka to level for the visitors with his 13^th goal of the season a minute to the break.

Sundowns wrung in changes at the start of the second stanza introducing Lucas Suarez and Teboho Mokoena on for Malibongwe Khoza and Jayden Adams while Abafana Bes’thende brought on Knox Mutizwa and Thokozani Lukhele for Moon and Ncube.

Sundowns could have taken a lead two minutes into the half through Thapelo Morena after a Shalulile pass but Watenga denied them. Another big moment for the visitors came at the hour mark, from a good team build up starting with Mokoena, then Morena to Shalulile who then set-up Tashreeq Mathews whose shot took a deflection.

Check out today’s Betway Premiership results and the updated log in our match centre.

Meanwhile Ribeiro could have completed his brace five minutes from that after being set-up by Arthur Sales, however the former shot over the bar.

Sales had two chances of his own to score 11 minutes later from a Marcelo Allende ball but slightly missed the target and also in the 87^th minute where he was denied by Watenga. In the 78^th minute Arrows won a free-kick but Nduduzo Sibiya’s attempt didn’t trouble Onyango as he easily punched away.

Miguel Cardoso’s men remain at the summit of the table with 55 points from 21 matches, while Arrows are 11^th with 21 points from 17 games.