Staff Reporter.
Royal AM ended their three-game losing run in the DStv Premiership with a 3-1 victory over KwaZulu-Natal rivals Golden Arrows at Chatsworth Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The win elevated Thwihli Thwahla to the seventh spot on the league standings ahead of their encounter against Mamelodi Sundowns on October 29. On the other hand, Abafana Bes’thende slipped down to the 10th spot on the standings and they are scheduled to face Maritzburg United on 28 October.
It took just seven minutes for Lesvin Stoffels to hand Royal a 1-0 lead. The 34-year-old striker netted his first-ever goal in the local top flight at the near-post after Arrows had failed to clear away a corner-kick.
Abafana Bes’thende then surged forward in numbers as they looked to level matters and they managed to equalise through Sbonelo Cele. The 21-year-old youngster finished off a good move by the visitors to make it 1-1 in the 32nd minute.
However, Arrows went to sleep at the back just before half-time and they were punished by Ruizagh Gamildien in the 43rd minute. The veteran striker was afforded space and time to beat goalkeeper Sifiso Mlungwana to hand Royal a 2-1 lead heading into the half-time break in the KwaZulu-Natal Derby clash.
Abafana Bes’thende played with determination after the restart and the visitors were awarded a penalty after Thabo Matlaba had handled the ball in the box. However, Nduduzo Sibiya was denied by keeper Xolani Ngcobo from the spot-kick.
It was end-to-end stuff in the latter stages of the game and it was the hosts who snatched a late goal. Substitute Motebang Sera was the man who scored in the last minute to seal Royal’s 3-1 win with the Arrows defence exposed.