University of Pretoria registered their second win in the Absa Premiership when they defeated Lamontville Golden Arrows 2-0 at the Tuks Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Geofrey Massa opened the scoring early in the first half and Atusaye Nyondo scored the insurance goal late in the second half to seal the win for his side.

The hosts dominated from the onset and should have taken the lead in the 14th minute when Massa dribbled past his marker to break into the box on the left, but Siya Mngoma came off his line quickly to block his shot.

A minute later AmaTuks were awarded a freekick on the left as Thabo Mosadi was brought down by Philani Shange. Massa made no mistake this time as he rose highest at the near post to head Siyabonga Ngubane’s delivery into the back of the net.

Steve Barker’s men continued to cause problems for their opponents and in the 23rd minute Massa laid the ball back for Khethukuthula Zwane just outside the penalty area, but his goal bound shot was deflected wide by Gift Sithole.

The hosts were back on the attack a minute later when Atusaye Nyondo stole the ball from Jabulani Nene before finding Massa on the left side of the box, but this time his effort struck the outside of the upright.

The visitors started seeing a bit more of the ball and in the 31st minute Philani Shange had a chance to level matters for his side, only to be denied by a brilliant block from Charly Moussono-Moussono.

Abafana Bes’thende were dealt a further blow in the 45th minute when they lost striker Norman Smith to injury, with Litha Ngxabi coming on as his replacement, as AmaTuks took a 1-0 lead into the break.

Massa should have grabbed his brace two minutes into the second half when a long pass from Mpho Matsi put him through on goal, but he directed his low shot just wide of the far post.

Arrows on the other hand were still unable to get behind the AmaTuks defence and in the 52nd minute Vuyisile Ntombayithethi was forced to take a shot from a long way out, but his effort flew wide of the target.

Four minutes later Arrows came close to finding the equaliser when Shange released Ngxabi in the centre of the penalty area, but he was denied a chance to take a shot by a well-timed tackle from Buhle Mkhwanazi.

Seconds later the visitors worked the ball back into the box to find Shange unmarked on the right, but his looping header was tipped over the crossbar by Washington Arubi.

Arrows continued to throw bodies forward in search of the equaliser but they were caught on the break in the 81st minute as Lantshene Phalane found Mpho Maruping inside the box.

Maruping then showed composure as he played a well-weighted pass towards Nyondo on the right and the Malawian made no mistake, placing his first-time shot past a helpless Mngoma.

Dipsy Selolwane came on as substitute in the 88th minute and he came close to scoring the third goal a minute later when he was put through by Maruping on the right, but he dragged his low shot across goal and wide of the far post.

The win moves AmaTuks to 10th place on the log with seven points from six matches, while Arrows remain in 13th place with four points.

University of Pretoria (1) 2 (Massa 15’, Nyondo 81’)

Lamontville Golden Arrows 0

Teams:

University of Pretoria: Arubi, Kekana, Shoyisa, Mkhwanazi, Moussono-Moussono, Matsi, Ngubane, Zwane (Maruping 63’), Mosadi (Selolwane 88’), Nyondo, Massa (Phalane 78’)

Lamontville Golden Arrows: Mngoma, Zwane S, Sithole, Ntombayithethi, Tom, Shange (Nguzana 80’), Khuboni, Nene, Zwane D (Wadabwa 70’), Smith (Ngxabi 45’), Qalanto