Stellenbosch answered Lamontville Golden Arrows’ opener to secure a 1-1 draw and a point in the Betway Premiership at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi on Wednesday.
Although in control for the first half, the Cape Winelands outfit were forced to respond late in the second half as they were unable to convert numerous chances.
The Maroons remain unbeaten in their last seven league games and sit 10th on the table, seven points above the relegation zone.
Golden Arrows failed to threaten in the first half, but reached another gear in the second. They remain in the top eight, in eighth place, level on points with Stellies.
In the 21st minute, Stellies burst forward as Wayde Jooste played Devin Titus into the right side of the Arrows box.
Titus had time and space but waited too long and was closed down; his pass back towards Mthetheleli Mthiyane was intercepted.
Abafana Bes'thende captain Ayanda Jiyanen was called into action in the 23rd minute. Stellies’ Langelihle Phili found Tshegofatso Mabasa in the box on the break. His pass found the striker, who had the sting taken out of his effort by Jiyane’s sliding block.
The visitors nearly capitalised from a set piece in the 35th minute. Joste’s cross found Mabasa in the area who could not direct his header on target.
LATE GOALS
Phili should have put the Maroons ahead in the 41st minute. Arrows failed to clear a corner properly, with goalkeeper Edward Maova punching the ball towards Phili, who scuffed his shot at the back post, letting the host off the hook.
Stellenbosch had a much better first half than Arrows, registering seven shots while the hosts managed none.
As the game remained goalless, the pace picked up in the last half an hour.
In the 67th minute, Arrows turned the ball over at the halfway line, handing Titus possession. He noticed Maova off his line and attempted to beat him from just inside the Arrows half. His effort came impressively close, resting on the roof of the net.
Abafana Bes'thende stopped their opponents with desperate defending again in the 76th minute. Moava made another mistake at the back, his pass being picked off by Titus, who sent the ball into substitute Wonderboy Makhubu in the box.
However, Isaac Cissé swept in to take the ball away from its intended target at the last moment.
Arrows claimed the opening goal in the 77th minute, thanks to a mistake from the Stellies captain at the back.
The hosts launched a ball forward on the counter, with goalkeeper Sage Stephens off his line to deal with it as a sweeper.
However, substitute Lungelo Nguse got a piece of the ball, sending Stephens’s clearance to fellow substitute Nhlanhla Gasa. With Stephens off his line, Gasa passed the ball into an empty net from 35 yards out.
However, the visitors struck back almost immediately. Phili sent a cross into the arrows box that was too low for Makhubu, who propped the ball up and backwards, allowing Genino Palace to arrive and send it into the bottom left corner on the volley, taking a deflection on its way through.
A first #BetwayPrem goal in Maroon for Genino Palace 👏#HeartoftheCape #MoreThanFootball #StellenboschFC 🍇 pic.twitter.com/eFF6IkrKhJ
— Stellenbosch FC (@StellenboschFC) March 18, 2026
In the 86th minute, substitute Ashley Cupido attempted to beat Maova from the edge of the area but was denied. Before Titus could get the rebound, Cele booted the ball far from danger.
Arrows are next in action against Sekhukhune at the same venue on Sunday, while Stellenbosch will look to overcome Chippa United at the Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday.
Lamontville Golden Arrows 1 (Gasa 77’)
Stellenbosch 1 (Palace 79’)
Lamontville Golden Arrows: E. Maova, O. Maluleke, I. Cissé, N. Mabaso, A. Jiyane, N. Dlamini, P. Khumalo (N. Gasa 46’), T. Khumalo (S. Sithole 46’), J. Dion (L. Nguse 75’), K. Shezi (B. Cele 75’), B. Theron (S. Madonsela 46’)
Stellenbosch: S. Stephens, T. Moloisane, M. Lebusa, A. Tiwani, M. Mthiyane, K. Enyinnaya, L. Phili (A. Cupido 80’), I. Jabaar (G. Palace 65’), W. Jooste (T. Mokobodi 67’), T. Mabasa (W. Makhubu 65’), D. Titus