Arrows climb into top eight after thumping Gallants

Junior Dion © Gallo Images

Golden Arrows claimed a comfortable 4-0 victory over 10-man Marumo Gallants in the Betway Premiership match, which was played at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday evening.

The victory elevated Abafana Bes'thende into the top eight as they are now placed seventh in the standings. The KwaZulu-Natal side will be looking to make it two wins in a row when they play host to Orlando Pirates on Wednesday in another league game.

Bahlabane Ba Ntwa, on the other hand, remained outside the top eight as they are occupying the 10th spot in the standings. Coach Alexandre Laffite's side will be in action in eThekwini once again on Wednesday when they lock horns with Durban City.

Having found the back of the net in each of his last three league matches, Sede Junior Dion was the man to watch out for in the Abafana Bes'thende side and the Ivorian centre forward managed to continue his impressive goalscoring form against Bahlabane Ba Ntwa

Jerome Karelse set up Dion, who made no mistake as the 31-year-old hitman hit the back of the net to hand Arrows the lead, as he haunted his former club, having had two spells with Gallants. The score was 1-0 to Arrows at the interval, thanks to league top scorer Dion's seventh goal of the season.

Coach Manqoba Mngqithi introduced Thokozani Khumalo 12 minutes into the second-half. Khumalo provided the assist when 19-year-old Isaac Cisse scored with 15 minutes left on the clock and it was the Ivorian teenager's second goal in as many league matches.

Khumalo was proving to be an inspired substitute as the former Mkhambathi FC star grabbed a late brace. The attacker beat goalkeeper Washington Arubi in the 87th minute, before scoring again in stoppage time to seal Arrows' 4-0 victory over Gallants, with Sabelo Radebe providing the assist.

Gallants finished the game with 10 players after Simo Mbhele, who was playing against his former club, was shown a red card in the 89th minute after receiving his second yellow card of the game, having been introduced with nine minutes left.

Arrows (1) 4 (Dion 15', Cisse 75', Khumalo 87', 90'+3)

Gallants 0

Arrows: Ngcobo, ?Phillips (Madonsela 46'), Jiyane, Karelse (T. Khumalo 57'), S.Maluleke (Cele 69'), Mantshiyane, Maxwele, Dlamini, Ndlovu (Radebe 69'), Cisse, Dion (Van Rooi 69')

Gallants: Arubi, Sikhosana, Chabatsane, Otladisa (Msendami 58'), Ncube, Eroine, Nhlapo (Mbhele 81'), Ndlondlo (Mphambaniso 66'), Sithole (Motloung 57'), Mabuza, Bance (Adetu 66')

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