Arrows add to Cosmos’ misery
Lamontville Golden Arrows bounced back to winning ways in the Absa Premiership when they defeated Jomo Cosmos 3-1 at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday evening.
Dillon Sheppard, Thanduyise Khuboni and Collins Mbesuma found the back of the net for the home side, while Tshepo Tomanyane scored the only goal for the visitors.
The hosts came close to snatching the lead in the second minute when Collins Mbesuma tried to find Sheppard with a lobbed pass, but the clearance fell for Siyabonga Nkosi on the right side of the box only for the midfielder to shoot wide of the far post.
The visitors then tried to get themselves into the game and in the 14th minute Alton Meiring did well to get his long range attempt on target but Arrows goalkeeper Nkosingiphile Gumede made a comfortable save.
Then Muhsin Ertugral’s men started to take control of the match as they started knocking the ball around from the back.
The pressure eventually paid off in the 22nd minute when Sibusiso Hadebe delivered a cross from the left to find Mbesuma in the centre of the penalty area.
The Zambian international then set the ball up nicely for Sheppard to drill a low shot past Avril Phali from the edge of the penalty area.
Ezenkosi responded well and came close to finding the equalizer five minutes later but Siyabonga Nontshinga saw his curled shot from outside the box going inches wide of the post.
Muhsin Ertugral’s men could’ve extended their lead in the 29th minute when Nkosi connected with a freekick from Sheppard, but his header was stopped on the line by Phali.
The rest of the half saw both sides failing to test the goalkeepers as Arrows took their narrows lead to the break.
Nine minutes after the break Elrio Van Heerden delivered a low cross from the right with Mbesuma and Nkosi waiting in the box but the latter’s sliding effort was blocked by Phali to keep his side in the game.
Jomo Sono’s men then found the equalizer in the 59th minute when defender Tshepo Tomanyane rose inside the box to head home from a Bamuza Sono freekick.
The visitors then started to grow in confidence but it was Arrows who came close to restoring their lead in the 75th minute when Nkosi fired a low freekick on target, but Phali pulled off another good save to push his effort wide.
Arrows finished the match strongly and in the 88th minute they earned a penalty when Ofosu Appiah fouled substitute Nkanyiso Mlotshwa inside the box.
Khuboni stepped up to take the kick and his effort came off the underside of the crossbar and deflected off Phali and into the back of the net.
Mbesuma added the final nail in the coffin two minutes later as he latched onto a loose ball and ran past the defenders before firing past the helpless Phali.
The result sees Arrows moving up one spot to 11th place on the table while Jomo Cosmos remain at the bottom of the log.
Golden Arrows (1) 3 (Sheppard 22’, Khuboni 88’pen, Mbesuma 89’)
Jomo Cosmos (0) 1 (Tomanyane 59’)
Arrows: Gumede, Hadebe (Mlotshwa 78’), Mvalo, Mkhize, Van Heerden, Khuboni, Nkosi (Nene 94’), Sheppard, Tom, Mbesuma, Ngobeni
Cosmos: Phali, Appiah, Berthe, Samb, Loke, Sono, Tomanyane (Manzini 75’), Nhlapho, Shitolo (Pila 91’), Meiring (Dondo 66’), Nontshinga
