/ 9 September 2004

Downs in dull draw

In the Castle Premiership clash between Golden Arrows and Mamelodi Sundowns, it was the Durban club who went home with a point, knowing that they matched their more fancied opponents man for man.

Chances were few and far between in what turned out to be a dull goalless draw.

Sundowns will be unhappy for dropping their second successive home point. In their last match they drew 1-1 with Moroka Swallows.

Sundowns struggled against the hard running Arrows in a first half that produced a couple of goal-scoring opportunities.

It was the coastal club that produced the two best chances in the half when Sundowns ‘keeper Andre Arendse was forced to use his experience to deny Richard Heyekane a breakthrough with two good efforts in the ninth and 31st minutes.

Sundowns’ only shot on target during the first 45 minutes came from the most expensive player in the Premier Soccer League, Zimbabwean striker Peter Ndlovu, who forced goalkeeper Davies Phiri to save his rocket in the 25th minute.

The second half was a waste of time for the Sundowns team and their growing band of supporters became impatient as the game wore on.

The only real chance came from substitute Siaka Tiene whose 20-metre free kick flew centimetres over the Arrows crossbar in the 56th minute.

To their credit, Arrows refused to buckle and went home with a point. It was a match that neither side deserved to win and a draw was a fair reflection of play. – Sapa