Stellenbosch FC broke a five-game winless run in the DStv Premiership by defeating hosts Golden Arrows 2-0 at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu, Durban, on Wednesday evening.
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The result – secured by goals from Jayden Adams and Ashley Du Preez – sees the Maroons move up to fifth place on the log, while Abafana Bes’thende drop to 10th place and miss out on registering a hat-trick of wins for the first time this season.Stellenbosch started brightly, moving the ball around with a good rhythm and bringing the likes of Juan Ortiz, Antonio Van Wyk and Judas Moseamedi into the game – though they were unable to properly test goalkeeper Nkosingiphile Gumede in the opening quarter.
Arrows gradually found a rhythm of their own and threatened through a Knox Mutizwa header on 22 minutes which required a sharp save from Stellies’ Sage Stephens, while a follow up from Nduduzo Sibiya was struck just wide.
The hosts were forced into an early change just after the half-hour mark when Sbonelo Cele succumbed to injury and was replaced by Siboniso Conco, while their next effort on goal saw Mutizwa strike on target direct from a free kick but fail to beat a well-positioned Stephens.Stellenbosch almost broke the deadlock late in the first half, with Dean Van Rooyen letting fly with a long-range effort which took a deflection off an Arrows defender and flashed just off target, leaving the match 0-0 at the interval.
The first chance after the restart went the way of the hosts on 50 minutes, with Sibiya crossing to find Nqobeko Dlamini inside the 18-yard area, who then struck an effort over the crossbar.
Stellenbosch then claimed the lead in the 55th minute, working a fine passing move through the middle of the park before Jayden Adams’s low shot had the beating of ‘keeper Gumede and made it 1-0 to the Cape side. Van Wyk provided the assist for the goal scorer.
Arrows then spurned a couple of chances to get themselves back on level terms, before opting for a double switch to boost their attack by bringing on Michael Gumede and Velemseni Ndwande just before the midway point of the second half.
The fresh legs gave Arrows a boost going forward and Ndwandwe glanced a header just wide of the mark on 70 minutes, while the Durban side went on to dominate the rest of the game in possession terms.
However, the Maroons were comfortable in sitting deep in defence and repelling whatever was thrown at them, even bolstering their backline with the introduction of veteran centre-back Robyn Johannes with 15 minutes to play.
And they remained a threat on the counter attack, catching Arrows out of shape in the 85th minute as substitute Ashley Du Preez struck home a second goal to wrap up a 2-0 victory for the team from the Western Cape.
Arrows will return to DStv Premiership action next midweek, Tuesday 12 April, with a clash away to Mamelodi Sundowns, while Stellenbosch’s next league fixture is away to Chippa United on Sunday 17 April.
Golden Arrows 0 Stellenbosch FC (0) 2 (Adams 55’, Du Preez 85’)
Arrows: N. Gumede, Ndlovu, Sibisi, Zuke, Mantshiyane, Dlamini (Sabelo 87’), L. Dube (Ndwandwe 66’), Cele (Conco 32’), Mmodi, Sibiya, Mutizwa (M. Gumede 66’)
Stellenbosch: Stephens, Van Rooyen (Letsoenyo 75’), De Goede, Mcaba, Van Heerden, Mthethwa, Jabaar (Isaacs 86’), Adams, Oritz (Du Preez 65’), Van Wyk (Mendieta 75’), Moseamedi (Johannes 75’)