Kaizer Chiefs’ chances of finishing second in the DStv Premiership were harmed by a 3-2 defeat to Golden Arrows at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday.
Arrows came back from a goal down twice, thanks to Knox Mutizwa’s brace (69th and 78th minutes) and a goal from the outstanding and skilful Ntsako Makhubela (45th + 1).
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Chiefs’ Sifiso Hlanti (eighth) and Mduduzi Shabalala (47th) scored in each half, but Amakhosi were unable to hold on to their leads.
Amakhosi used the game as a warm-up for Saturday’s Soweto derby against nemesis Orlando Pirates at FNB Stadium.
The Chiefs remain in fifth place, while the Arrows have risen to ninth.
Chiefs made a strong start to the match in Polokwane, dominating the men from KwaZulu-Natal from the start.
Former Bafana Bafana player Hlanti gave Amakhosi the lead in the ninth minute with a well-placed header from a Keagan Dolly corner.
Dolly was unlucky not to double Chiefs’ lead after his brilliant goal shot hit the crossbar.
Arrows appeared disjointed for the first 30 minutes of the game; if Chiefs had been sharp enough, they could have put the game out of Abafana Bes’thende’s reach during that time.
However, despite creating a few chances that could have built scoreboard pressure, the Soweto giants failed to capitalise on their advantage.
Arrows’ technical team, led by co-coaches Vusumuzi Vilakazi and Mabhuti Khenyeza, wasted no time in addressing the shortcomings of their struggling midfield.
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In the 34th minute, they substituted Siyabonga Khumalo for Lungelo Dube, and the former gave Arrows some bite in the middle of the park.
That change appeared to put Durbanites on par with Chiefs. As a result, the Durban team could launch attacks and were rewarded when Makhubela equalised on the stroke of halftime.
Shabalala, an enterprising and skilled young forward, gave Amakhosi the lead two minutes into the second half.
𝐋𝐀𝐃𝐋𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀 🥅
Another early goal by the teenage sensation, Shabalala to restore Amakhosi’s lead. 𝑽𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒌𝒂 𝑴𝒃𝒐𝒃𝒐 🗣️✌️ pic.twitter.com/PGfd6n5Gi8
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) February 19, 2023
𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐗 𝐌𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐙𝐖𝐀 🎲 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐗 𝐌𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐙𝐖𝐀
KAIZER CHIEFS 2️⃣-3️⃣ GOLDEN ARROWS
📺 Stream #DStvPrem live: https://t.co/Tg69y0DH5d pic.twitter.com/XxTtsofobn
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) February 19, 2023
