Cape Town - Santos marked the restart of the Absa Premiership with a well-earned 3-1 victory over Golden Arrows at a misty Athlone Stadium on Friday night.
Vuysile Wana is the man currently making headlines at the Cape side and he added another feather to his cap, (after scoring against SuperSport United in the final game of 2010) when he scored from nearly 40-yards out with a breathtaking shot that left Arrows keeper Helton da Rocha well and truly stranded, and the score 1-0 to Santos with only two minutes on the clock.
Arrows had to wait until the 21st minute for their first real chance, but it never materialised as Santos keeper Wayne Arendse got back to make an excellent challenge before Collins Mbesuma could pull the trigger. Santos were close to doubling their lead in the 29th minute, but Salmaan King struck the cross-bar with an attempted chip, with Wana again involved as he showed good vision to lay the ball across the edge of the area to an unmarked King.
A minute later the two palyers were involved again and this time a goal was the outcome as King raced onto Wana's threaded ball and steered it past da Rocha to make it 2-0 to Santos.
Arrows however made sure they kept themselves in the game at 2-1 when Siyabonga Nkosi scored after 35 minutes, the former Bafana Bafana midfielder showing good application to turn home Siyanda Zwane's low cross.
Fans got a rare glimpse of the old Mbesuma, the one that was such a danger at Chiefs, when he made a bullocking run in the 56th minute, but in ended in a tame effort wide of goal.
It was to be Wana's night as he cominined with King again to make it 3-1. This time it was King who got the final touch and his name on the scoresheet as he nodded home at the far post in the 56th minute.
Boebie Solomons' side had few problems playing out the last half an hour as Abafana Bes'thende struggled to find much inspiration in attack against a well-organised home defence.