Arrows add pressure on Pa Dembo’s Santos

Golden Arrows heaped more misery on Pa Dembo Touray’s struggling Santos with their 2-1 win in the ABSA Premiership at Athlone Stadium on Wednesday.

Siyabonga Nkosi scored the opening goal after 28 minutes although the hosts were bag on level terms when Neo Segalo bagged an equaliser in the 37th minute. However, it was back to the drawing board for boss Duncan Crowie after Thamsanqa Gabuza won it for Arrows with just six minutes of the match remaining.

Santos started brightly and enjoyed a few half chances in the opening exchanges. Erwin Isaacs tried his luck with a 20-yard volley after 18 minutes that forced Arrows goalkeeper Nkosingiphile Gumede into a smart save.

Matthew Pattison went even closer to breaking the deadlock in the 25th minute with a hammered drive that smashed against a post. But it was the visitors who took the lead after Nkosi latched onto an Elrio van Heerden free kick, that he directed goalward.

Santos hit back just eight minutes later when Neo Segalo slotted home from close range after some great play by Isaacs. The second half was dreary affair though with neither side creating much in the way of clear-cut chances. Eleazar Rodgers saw his shot saved on the line following Salmaan King’s cross in the 70th minute before Pattison fired a shot into the side-netting.

But with the game heading for a draw, Tamsanqa Gabuza picked up on a loose ball on the edge of the area and smashed a hit shot goal ward. Pa Dembo Touray got his hand to the ball but the shot was hit with such a force he couldn’t keep the ball out.