Golden Arrows secured a 3-2 win over Sekhukhune United in the Betway Premiership match at the Princess Magogo Stadium in Durban on Saturday afternoon.
The victory saw Abafana Bes'thende snap a seven-match winless run and they climbed up to the 12th spot in the league standings as they avoided relegation from the elite league.
They will wrap up their campaign with a match against SuperSport United.
Golden Arrows are back to winning ways to end the season on a high 🙌#SSDiski | #BetwayPrem pic.twitter.com/V6FYeqsI6J
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) May 24, 2025
Babina Noko, on the other hand, missed out on the next season's CAF Confederation Cup after finishing fourth in the standings, with Stellenbosch FC finishing third and Stellies will represent South Africa in the continental tournament.
Abafana Bes'thende got off to a lively start as they applied pressure on Babina Noko's defence.
As a result, defender Trésor Tshibwabwa Yamba Yamba netted an own goal in the 12th minute to hand Arrows a 1-0 lead, as the hosts' early pressure paid off.
Things went from bad to worse for Sekhukhune in the 37th minute as they were reduced to 10 players when Shaune Mogaila was sent off.
However, the visitors managed to level matters despite being numerically disadvantaged when Ngoanamello Rammala netted from a free-kick in first-half stoppage time and the score was 1-1 at half-time.
Abafana Bes'thende took advantage of the numerical superiority over Babina Noko after the restart.
Nhlanhla Zwane netted his first-ever goal in the top flight to hand Arrows a 2-1 lead four minutes before the hour-mark, much to the delight of the home fans.
Sbonelo Cele netted in the 65th minute to make it 3-1 to Arrows, with the visitors' defence exposed.
Sikhosonke Langa then scored Babina Noko's consolation goal with four minutes left after the hosts were caught napping at the back and Arrows held on to secure a 3-2 victory over Sekhukhune on the day.
Arrows (1) 3 (Yamba 12', Zwane 56', Cele 65')
Sekhukhune (1) 2 (Rammala 45'+2, Langa 86')
Arrows: Maova, Jiyane, Shitolo, Matlaba (Phillips 25'), Ndwandwe (Zwane 40'), Dlamini, S.Cele, Van Rooi, Kobedi (Mhlongo 46'), Sibeko (Mthanti 61'), Masuku (Sibiya 61')
Sekhukhune: Leaner, Cardoso, Letlapa (Shezi 68'), Rammala, Tshibwabwa, Mkhize, Monare (Langa 22'), Mogaila, Mncube (Boyeli 68'), Makgalwa (Mokoane 78'), Ohizu (Sihlali 57')