Golden Arrows opened their Betway Premiership season with a 2-0 victory away to Stellenbosch FC on Wednesday night.
Stellies made wholesale changes following their win over AS Vita in the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round, first-leg, as only goalkeeper Sage Stephens, Ismael Toure, Fawaaz Basadien and Ibraheem Jabaar remained in the line-up.
Steve Barker's charges had a bright start but only came close to going ahead on 18 minutes after Kyle Jurgens' dipping shot from range required great reflexes from shot-stopper Edward Maova.
The hosts remained on the front foot and just after the half-hour mark, Ashley Cupido almost broke the deadlock with a header that was brilliantly kept out by Maova, after a cross by Basadien.
The game opened up towards the end of the first stanza and Sanele Barns thought he had made it 1-0 for Stellies after he rounded Maova and scored into an empty net but the goal was disallowed for offside and the sides went to break deadlocked.
Neither side could grab the game by the scruff of the net early from the break and it not up until the hour-mark, where Stellies created the first chance of the second stanza after Barns had a close-range shot saved by Maova.
Barker, however, had already lined-up the changes, as he gave new signing Chumani Butsaka his debut, alongside regular attackers Andre de Jong and Devin Titus.
However, it was Arrows who seized their momentum 20 minutes before time after Siyanda Mthanti broke the deadlock from winning the ball high up the field and went through on goal.
Stellies were fired up to come back into the game but they had a big set-back in added time after Toure was penalised for a handball in the box.
Lungelo Nguse secured maximum points for Arrows with the second goal after he dispatched the spot-kick.
The Cape Winelands side will travel to Democratic Republic of Congo to take on Vita in the Confederation Cup second preliminary round, second-leg.
Arrows, on the other hand, will host Gallants on Saturday in the Betway Premiership.
Confirmed line-ups:
Stellenbosch: Stephens, Onyango, Basadien, Jurgens, Toure, Palace, Adams, Barns, Cupido, Phili, Jabaar
Subs: Masuluke, Mcaba, Mdaka, Moloisane, Nduli, de Jong, Mini, Titus, Butsaka
Golden Arrows: Maova, Phillips , Shitolo, Mantshiyane, S.Cele, Zuke, Zwane, Mthanti, Sibiya, Masuku, Mutizwa
Subs: Gumede, Nxadi, Sibeko, Theron, Gumbi, B.Cele, Van Rooi, Ncube, Nguse