SuperSport United cling to safety as Arrows miss top-eight finish

SuperSport United secured their place in the Betway Premiership for another season after playing to a 1-1 draw against Golden Arrows, avoiding the dreaded relegation play-off. Meanwhile, Arrows fell short of a top-eight finish, failing to claim the emphatic six-goal victory they needed.

The match burst into life in the fourth minute when Christian Saile fired SuperSport ahead, netting his fourth goal of the season—making him the club's joint-top scorer. Arrows responded in the 24th minute, with Velemseni Ndwandwe restoring parity in what proved to be a record-extending 11th draw between these two sides in their 48 league meetings since the 2000-01 season.

This fixture is no stranger to a 1-1 result—this marked the sixth time that SuperSport and Arrows have ended in a 1-1 deadlock, mirroring previous occurrences in the 2004-05, 2006-07, 2009-10, 2016-17, 2018-19, and now 2024-25 seasons. The draw pattern also maintains symmetry, with both teams hosting three of the six encounters that ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

Golden Arrows dominated possession, completing 579 passes—their highest total in a single match this season. Gladwin Shitolo was instrumental in their ball retention, registering 111 passes, also a season-high for an Arrows player.

However, despite their control, Arrows struggled in front of goal, managing just two shots on target compared to SuperSport’s four.

SuperSport goalkeeper Ricardo Goss played his part in securing survival, making two crucial saves from three shots faced. Meanwhile, Brooklyn Poggenpoel continued to show his value in attack, recording his second assist of the campaign—the most for SuperSport United. Arrows’ Sbonelo Cele similarly stood out, registering his third assist of the season, leading his team in that regard.

SEASON END MISERY FOR BOTH SIDES

While SuperSport avoided relegation, their form in the run-in was troubling, finishing the season winless in their last four games (D1 L3) and securing just one win in their final 11 (D5 L5). Golden Arrows fared little better, managing just one victory in their last nine outings (D4 L4), ultimately falling short of a top-eight finish.

Elsewhere, with SuperSport securing survival, Cape Town City now faces the relegation play-offs, becoming the fourth team from the Western Cape to enter this battle after Vasco Da Gama (2010-11), Santos (2011-12), and Chippa United (2012-13). History does not favour Western Cape teams in this predicament—all previous entrants have suffered relegation, with Cape Town Spurs enduring two drops (2017-18 and 2023-24).

The season concludes with contrasting fortunes—SuperSport breathes a sigh of relief, while Golden Arrows ponder what might have been.