Following an excellent start to the 2024/2025 season, Golden Arrows suffered a first defeat at the hands of newly-promoted Magesi FC on Thursday.
In a bizarre match played over two days, a 79th-minute Wonderboy Makhubu strike saw Dikwena tsa Meetse claim their first top-flight win at the Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammarsdale.
Having kicked off on Wednesday evening, the match could not be completed on the night as the lights at the stadium went out with four minutes of the game remaining.
After attempts to rectify the situation on the night, it was decided that the match could only be settled at midday on Thursday.
And as expected, it was a frantic five or so minutes in Hammarsdale, with Arrows having a goal chalked off for a foul on the goalkeeper.
FULL TIME
— Lamontville Golden Arrows FC (@goldenarrowsfc1) September 26, 2024
The fixture is complete after the regualtion time and extra time is played out.
Lamontville Golden Arrows 0-1 (Makhubu 79') Magesi FC
#SthendeAWay #GreenAndGold #10betGoldenArrows #BetwayPrem pic.twitter.com/9Rxk48caWq
However, Clinton Larsen and his Magesi side held on and went back to Limpopo with all three points.
It had seemed the top-flight would be too much for Magesi, who are in their debut campaign in the Premiership, following back-to-back losses to local rivals Polokwane City and Sekhukhune United.
However, their victory over one of the Premiership’s in-form sides will raise a few eyebrows as they look ahead to facing another KwaZulu-Natal side, Royal AM, at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday.
For Abafana Bes’thende, the loss may be a shock, but also a good wake-up call for coach Mabhuti Khenyeza and his players.
A defeat to a promoted side might be a huge dent in their confidence, even under weird circumstances, but a trip to Sekhukhune United might be the right fixture to rectify any insecurities that linger.
Arrows go to the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday in a 3pm kick-off.