Arrows End Winless Run With Nedbank Cup Victory Over Orbit
Golden Arrows finally brought their winless streak to an end after a convincing 3–0 victory over Orbit College in the Nedbank Cup round of 32 at King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday.
Goals from Angelo van Rooi and Junior Dion in the first half laid the foundation for Arrows’ dominant performance, before substitute Ayabulela Maxwele added a third late in the second half to seal progression into the last 16.
The match was a replay after Saturday’s encounter was abandoned due to inclement weather, with Arrows leading 1–0 at the time following a Lungelo Nguse penalty. Because the game was halted after the first half, all events from Saturday were nullified and the fixture had to restart from scratch.
Despite humid and extremely hot conditions in Durban on Sunday, there was no doubt the match would be completed this time around.
Arrows showed no signs of being unsettled by Saturday’s abandonment and asserted themselves early in the replay, scoring twice within the opening 32 minutes. Van Rooi opened the scoring when he met a pinpoint cross from Siyanda Ndlovu, finishing from close range.
Ndlovu was heavily involved and came close to extending the lead, seeing one effort blocked, while Dion’s header was smartly tipped away by Orbit College goalkeeper Sabelo Nkomo.
However, Dion would not be denied, doubling Arrows’ advantage after latching onto a well-timed pass from Siboniso Madonsela. The former AmaZulu striker broke clear, rounded Nkomo, and calmly slotted into the empty net.
Ndlovu — who has recently been linked with a move to Orlando Pirates alongside Isaac Cisse — was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet himself, rattling the upright shortly before the hour mark.
With the outcome effectively settled, coach Manqoba Mngqithi opted to withdraw his influential attacker. The final goal arrived late on when Maxwele came off the bench, beat Nkomo at the near post, and finished clinically to cap off a fine afternoon for Arrows.
The victory ends Golden Arrows’ six-match winless run, with their previous win coming against Marumo Gallants in November in a league encounter — a match Dion also scored in as Arrows claimed a 4–0 win at the same Durban venue.
