Shocking call as ref sends off wrong Arrows player

Cape Town - In another embarrassment for the Premier Soccer League (PSL) referee Thando Ndzandzeka mistakenly sent off Golden Arrows right-back Limbikani Mzava for a second bookable offence for a foul committed by fellow defender Mzwandile Buthelezi.

The decision ended up costing the home side as they were defeated 2-1 by Orlando Pirates that leaves them in 12th position in the league standings.

In a case of mistaken identity Ndzandzeka made the calamitous decision of showing Mzava a second yellow card in the 56th minute for a tackle from behind made by team-mate Buthelezi.

Arrows fought from 2-0 down with ten men at the Princess Magogo Stadium after goals by Thembinkosi Lorch and Mthokozisi Dube before pulling one back through Jabulani Shongwe.

It was a tale of what might have been for Abafana Bes'thende, who could be forgiven for wondering how the game would have finished had they stayed with 11 men on the park.

However, Larsen refused to blame the referee for the defeat, instead hailing his side's character.

"I have nothing to say about that [red card]. I thought the referee made his decision, we went a man down and you’d never say in the second half that we were a man short. I thought my team performed very well," he told SuperSport.

"We had lots of chances towards the end to even equalise. I thought the officiating was quite good tonight.

"I didn’t see it [the Mzava incident] from my side. I thought the boys gave their all and did everything I asked of them. First half, we were very poor, we gave them a lot of space. I thought at half-time, we rectified it and came out a little bit better in the second half.

"When we were a man down, we still created three or four very good chances and against a quality side being one man down is never easy.

When their tails go up, they start entertaining the supporters and it becomes difficult, but even under those circumstances, our players never dropped their heads and almost equalised right at the death. They played like soldiers. That’s all we can ask of our team."