Royal AM ended their three-game losing run in the DStv Premiership with a 3-1 victory over KwaZulu-Natal rivals Golden Arrows on Tuesday evening.
DStv Premiership
Result: Royal AM 3-1 Golden Arrows
Date: 25 October 2022
Venue: Chatsworth Stadium
Thwihli Thwahla made wholesale changes after their defeat against Swallows, as only goalkeeper Zakhele Ngcobo, Ricardo Nascimento and Thato Lingwati retained their places.
Arrows, on the opposite side, were boosted by the return of shot-stopper Sifiso Mlungwana and Knox Mutizwa after their defeat against Orlando Pirates.
The game got off to a quick start as AM grabbed the lead on seven minutes after Lesvin Stoffels fired home a low volleyed in the box after a knock down header by Nascimento from a set-piece.
Arrows almost had a response just six minutes later after Pule Mmodi latched onto a cross unmarked in the box but his shot was crucially blocked by Lingwati.
The match opened from end to end as Ruzaigh Gamildien had a big chance a minute from there after going clear on goal from a counter-attack but his thumping shot was acrobatically punched away by Mlungwana.
Abafana Bes'thende eventually levelled matters just after the half-hour mark after Sbonelo Cele started an attacking move and finished it off with a low strike in the box from a cut-back by Mutizwa.
Royal AM had the momentum towards the end of the first stanza, with Gamildien restoring their lead shortly before the break with a close-range shot past Mlungwana after a through ball by Elias Pelembe.
Arrows had a bright start in the second stanza as Velemseni Ndwandwe had a glorious opportunity to pull them level three minutes after the interva, but he blasted his volley over the crossbar at the near post.
The home side were under pressure from then on and they made a change to refresh the team on 68 minutes as Motebang Sera replaced Stoffels upfront.
Arrows' pressure eventually paid off after they were were awarded a penalty with 15 minutes remaining for a handball by Thabo Matlaba in the box, but Nduduzo Sibiya's spot-kick was saved by Ngcobo.
Ngcobo could not continue for the hosts after saving the penalty due to injury and he was replaced by shot-stopper Mondli Mpoto.
Thwihli Thwahla would make Arrows pay for the missed penalty , as Sera killed off the game in the last minute with a strike into the top corner after pouncing on a bad clearance in the box.
Here's how they lined up:
Royal AM: 32. Ngcobo, 2. Msomi, 22. Rikhotso, 3. Nascimento, 24. Lingwati, 14. Matlaba, 34. Thikazi, 6. Kobedi, 7. Pelembe, 35. Stoffels, 30. Gamildien
Subs: 25. Mpoto, 18. De Jong, 9. Macuphu, 17. Mogaila, 29. Sikakane, 42. Ncobeni, 8. Phalane, 9. Sera, Kumalo
Arrows: 36. Mlungwana, 30. Cele, 15. Zuke, 27. Nxadi, 37. Ndlovu, 11. Sibiya, 12. Ndwandwe, 13. Mmodi, 23. Dube, 23. Dlamini, 18. Mutizwa,
Subs: 28. Mbatha, 29. Mjengu, 5. Shitolo, 35. Mantshiyane, 2. Gumbi, 4. Khumalo, 3. Lunga, 25. Nkosi, 9. Moon
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