Royal AM secured a late 2-1 win over Lamontville Golden Arrows in a DStv Premiership match at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The win saw Thwihli Thwahla climb up to the ninth spot on the league standings ahead of their Nedbank Cup clash against Motsepe Foundation Championship side Pretoria Callies on February 11.
While Abafana Bes’thende slipped down to the 13th spot on the standings and they will now lock horns with Cape Town City in a Nedbank Cup encounter on February 12.
Abafana Bes’thende started well – attacking through the wings and they were able to test through goalkeeper Hugo Nyame, who denied Ntsako Makhubela 18 minutes into the match.
However, Thwihli Thwahla grew gradually into the game and keeper Nkosingiphile Gumede became busy. Gumede gathered Thato Lingwati’s header in the 20th minute before denying Motebang Sera in the 39th minute.
The score was 0-0 at halftime during the KwaZulu-Natal Derby encounter.
An entertaining second-half followed, as substitute Mfundo Thikazi made an immediate impact – scoring to hand Royal a 1-0 lead in the 59th minute, with Sera providing the assist.
However, the lead lasted for nine minutes as the hosts levelled matters through their all-time leading goalscorer Knox Mutizwa, who beat Nyame to make it 1-1, much to the delight of the Arrows fans.
Thikazi continued to create problems for the Arrows defence and he provided the assist for the visitors’ late winning goal as he set up Sedwyn George, who netted in the 84th minute to hand Royal a 2-1 win.