Siyanda Ndlovu opened the scoring in the 14th minute against his former club. Junior Dion equalised in the 76th minute. Mokoena then won it from just outside the box in the 88th minute, after being given space to shoot.
The sides had met at the same ground a week earlier in the MTN8 semi-final second leg. Both coaches named similar teams. Sundowns started on the front foot; Arrows sat deep and paid for it when Ndlovu finished inside the area. After the interval Arrows grew into the contest. Dion’s goal looked set to earn a point until Mokoena’s late strike.
The win takes Sundowns to 16 points from six league matches (five wins, one draw) and three points clear at the top. Arrows have six points from five games.
Miguel Cardoso’s side remain unbeaten in the league and now turn towards a crowded September. FIFA have already set a squad deadline for their 19 September Intercontinental Cup meeting with Al Ahli in Pretoria. League points still matter first. Sunday’s three were earned the hard way.
Arrows will regret the chances that followed Dion’s equaliser. Sundowns will take the result and the standings. Mokoena, already a central figure for club and country, supplied the finish that kept the champions in front of the pack.