Vasco bounce back

Vasco da Gama secured a not entirely convincing, but much needed win against Golden Arrows.

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Vasco da Gama secured a not entirely convincing, but much needed win as they beat Golden Arrows 1-0 on Friday night.

With people still slowly drifting into the Cape Town Stadium, the first half failed to dish up much excitement, with neither side able to find much fluency or rhythm in attack.

After seven minutes the first real chance materialised when Nhlanhla Sithole waltzed through the Vasco midfield before going for goal from 25-yards out, but his effort was well wide, not troubling keeper Posnett Omony.

Sithole also had Arrows' other best chance of the half, just before the break when he cleverly fashioned space for himself in the box and then got his shot away, only to see the ball come back off the upright.

In between, the Cape side, playing without the injured Sibusiso Zuma in attack, had their fair share of ball possession and territory, but the final delivery into the box for the most part did not result in clear-cut chances.

Vasco signalled their intentions 10 minutes into the second stanza when Francois Adams was just wide with a header after a cleverly worked short corner was swung in by Cole Alexander.

But in the 57th minute there was no denying Carlos das Neves' side the opening goal as Mokete Tsotetsi powered a header into the back of the net, following some indecisive goal keeping by Thulasizwe Khuzwayo, who was unable to deal with Josephy Kamwendo's free kick from near the right hand corner flag.

Following the goal, it was the Cape side who had to endure increasingly frequent raids into their box from the Abafana

Bes'thende attackers.

Collins Mbesuma forced Omony to palm away a 74th minute shot and the goal keeper was at it again soon after as he pulled off a superb save to deny Sithole, who was unlucky not to get a goal on the night from his industry out on the left.

More chances followed as Arrows piled on the pressure, Omony again doing superbly to save a close range shot from Njabulo Manqana with 87 minutes on the clock.

Memories of late goals recently conceded would have been plaguing Vasco as the game went into injury time, but they held firm to record a much-needed win. -

Sapa

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/vasco-bounce-back-1.1018526

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