Mamelodi Sundowns’ dominance over Golden Arrows took a temporary halt as the defending champions were held to a 1-1 draw in their Betway Premeirship encounter at Mpumalanga Stadium on Wednesday night.

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Golden Arrows Show Resilience

Having suffered two heavy defeats in their previous two meetings with Sundowns—a 5-0 thrashing in the Cup and a 4-0 loss in the league—Golden Arrows, under Manqoba Mngqithi, were determined to avoid another humiliating outcome.

The home side took a surprising lead in the 31st minute through Keenan Phillips, who capitalised on a well-delivered free-kick from Sbonelo Cele. Phillips’ powerful header left Denis Onyango with no chance, sending the Arrows fans into celebration.

However, just before half-time, Phillips went from hero to villain when he was penalised for a handball inside the box. Sundowns’ Lucas Ribeiro Costa stepped up and coolly executed a Panenka penalty, scoring his 13th goal of the season to bring the game level at 1-1.

Mamelodi Sundowns’ Unlucky Night

Sundowns pushed hard for a winner in the second half, with Peter Shalulile having two goals disallowed—one for offside and another due to a prior foul. The visitors controlled possession and created more chances, but Arrows’ defence stood firm.

Jayden Adams had a night to forget, struggling to impose himself on the game before being replaced by Teboho Mokoena. On the other hand, Phillips was the standout performer for Arrows before he was forced off with an injury in the final minutes.

Title Race Implications

Despite the draw, Sundowns remain in firm control of the league with 55 points after 21 matches, 16 ahead of second-placed Orlando Pirates, who secured a 1-0 victory over Chippa United on the same night. However, Pirates still have four games in hand, keeping the title race mathematically alive.

For Golden Arrows, the result was a much-needed confidence boost, especially after recent struggles in the league. The Durban-based side sits in 11th place with 20 points from 16 games.

What’s Next?

Sundowns will shift focus to their upcoming fixture against Sekhukhune United, hoping to return to winning ways. Meanwhile, Golden Arrows will prepare for another tricky clash against Polokwane City as they aim to build on their resilient performance.

While Sundowns remain the runaway leaders, this result proves that even the best teams can be challenged when faced with a determined and disciplined opponent.