Mamelodi Sundowns claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Lamontville Golden Arrows at King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi on Sunday, 6 September 2026, as a late strike from Teboho Mokoena secured the points and lifted the Brazilians three points clear at the summit of the Betway Premiership.
Siyanda Ndlovu opened the scoring in the 14th minute against his former club, finishing clinically inside the box after Arrows' defence was caught out of position. The early goal handed the defending champions control, though Golden Arrows remained compact and dangerous on the counter-attack throughout the first half. Sundowns dominated possession but were unable to extend their lead before the interval.
Arrows fought back
After the break, Arrows raised their intensity. Their persistence was rewarded in the 67th minute when Junior Dion equalised, converting a chance created by Thokozani Khumalo to make it 1-1. The Ivorian forward, who has repeatedly troubled Sundowns in recent encounters, restored parity and briefly shifted the momentum in favour of the home side.
Mokoena delivers the killer blow
With the contest drifting towards a draw, Mokoena produced the decisive moment in the 88th minute. Afforded space just outside the penalty area, the midfielder struck a spectacular effort that looped beyond the reach of the Arrows goalkeeper and nestled in the net. The late winner delivered all three points for Miguel Cardoso's side and underlined Sundowns' ability to deliver in key moments.
League table impact and recent form
The result takes Sundowns to 16 points from six league matches and opens a three-point gap over Orlando Pirates, who have a game in hand. It also marked a second successive victory over Arrows within a week, following their dramatic 3-2 triumph in the MTN8 semi-final second leg at the same venue on 30 August, which sent the Brazilians through to the final against Pirates on away goals after a 3-3 aggregate.
Looking ahead
Arrows once again pushed the champions close but were left to rue missed opportunities in the final third after equalising. For Sundowns, the late winner highlighted their resilience and capacity to grind out results on the road as they pursue a ninth league title in ten seasons.
The Brazilians return to Pretoria with maximum points and clear momentum, while Arrows remain competitive yet continue to fall just short against the league's dominant force.