Mamelodi Sundowns remain 10 points behind log leaders Kaizer Chiefs after a 3-2 loss against Golden Arrows at the Suguar Ray Xulu Stadium on Sunday afternoon in the Absa Premiership.
The Brazilians came into the game looking to bounce back from their midweek draw against Baroka while also looking to close the gap of league leaders Kaizer Chiefs.
Pitso Mosimane’s men though faced an Arrows side which have impressed so far this season under Steven Komphela and were looking at moving into the top four with a win on Sunday.
Mosimane rang the changes for Dows as he brought in Rivaldo Coetzee, Sphelele Mkhulise and Lyle Lakay back into the starting XI.
With the rain pouring down at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium both teams struggled to create a tempo but it was Downs who created the first opening when Thapelo Morena went marauding down the right flank but his shot was well saved by goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda with 10 minutes gone.
It was then the chance of Steve Komphela’s men to go close as Knox Mutizwa went through on goal after 14 minutes, but the striker could not hit the target with his effort flying just wide of the bottom corner.
With time ticking on it looked as if neither side would find a way to goal, that was until Tebogo Langerman’s low cross to the front post was met by Morena who made no mistake in finding the back of the net just five minutes before the break.
With the rain continuing to fall, conditions in Durban continued to get worse which was hampering the type of football the teams could produce.
With Downs struggling to string their passes together it was Arrows who grabbed the next goal aided by the conditions and a Dennis Onyango error in the Sundowns goal, as Danny Phiri’s shot was slipped straight through the Ugandan keeper with 60 minutes gone.
Ten minutes later and Komphela’s men were ahead with Knox Mutizwa getting on the end of a long ball from Divine Lungu before turning his man and firing past Onyango.
Arrows were then handed the opportunity to seal the three points with 10 minutes to go after Seth Parusnath was floored in the area and the referee pointed to the spot. Mutizwa stepped up and completed his brace with a well-placed penalty.
Mosimane’s men though weren’t going down without a fight as Andile Jali pulled one back in the 88th minute but it proved too little to late as Arrows held on for the three points.
