Betway Premiership
Result: Golden Arrows 1-0 Mamelodi Sundowns
Date: 24 September 2025
Venue: King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium
Golden Arrows stunned reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns with a 1-0
victory on Tuesday evening, courtesy of Junior Dion’s first-half header.
The visitors made a couple of changes as Peter Shalulile and Jayden Adams
returned to the starting line-up, while new signings Nuno Santos and
Ntsiki Ntsabeleng were named among the substitutes.
Sundowns dominated possession early on, with Arthur Sales and Tashreeq
Matthews seeing plenty of the ball, but they struggled to break down a
compact Arrows defence.
The hosts made their dominance count on 31 minutes when Dion rose highest
at a corner and powered home a header, taking his tally to four league
goals for the season. Despite constant pressure from Miguel Cardoso’s men,
the Arrows backline stood firm to preserve their lead going into the
break.
Santos was introduced at halftime for his debut as Sundowns pushed for a
response, but their task was made more difficult ten minutes later when
defender Keanu Cupido was stretchered off with an injury, forcing Mothobi
Mvala into action.
Cardoso threw on young striker Bennet Mokoena and forward Lebogang Mothiba
for the final half-hour, but the champions could not find a breakthrough
as Thakasani Mbanjwa remained largely untested in the Arrows goal.
The Durban side even had opportunities to add a second, but Ronwen
Williams produced two fine saves to keep Sundowns in the contest.
Ultimately, Dion’s goal proved enough to hand Arrows a famous win and end
the champions’ unbeaten run.
Golden Arrows XI: Mbanjwa; Jiyane, P. Khumalo, Komara, Phillips; Dlamini,
S. Cele, Dion, Zwane, Maxwele, Ndlovu.
Subs: Tshabalala, Matlaba, Karelse, Shitolo, Booysen, Maluleke, Sibiya,
Cisse, Sithole.
Mamelodi Sundowns XI: Williams; Cupido, Khoza, Modiba; Allende, Mudau,
Mokoena; Matthews, Adams, Sales, Shalulile.
Subs: Onyango, Mvala, Lunga, Aubaas, Mkhulise, Ntsabeleng, Santos, B.
Mokoena, Mothiba.
