Lamontville Golden Arrows illustrated that they are going to be tough to crack this season, messing up the first day in the office for Kaizer Chiefs caretaker coach Cavin Johnson with a 2-1 win.
This after Knox Mutizwa scored twice as Abafana Bes’thende continued their fine run as they beat Chiefs on a cold day at Mpumalanga Stadium on Saturday.
It was a game that Chiefs hit the foothold but struggled to trouble a very tricky and dangerous Arrows, especially at home.
Arrows remain unbeaten at their venue in Hammersdale since they moved away from Durban to be close to Pietermaritzburg, looking for some comfort in the stands.
It was cold but a good number of fans braved the cold to watch their beloved club.
Johnson, who was appointed as interim coach on Monday after Molefi Ntseki was shown the door by Chiefs, greeted the club’s fans before the game started, having lined up alongside club communications manager Vina Maphosa.
And when the game started, Chiefs were the better team but it was illuminated by a mistake for the first goal by Brandon Petersen who failed to control the back pass of Thatayaone Ditlhokwe and slipped away from it and Mutizwa punished him by rolling the ball in the empty net in the 19 minutes.
But Chiefs hit back five minutes later as Sifiso Hlanti was unmarked at the back post to even the numbers.
But there was a shade of offside as Hlanti looked to be ahead before Edson Castillo struck the free kick. However the goal stood and Chiefs were back in the game.
Mdu Shabalala looked lively for Chiefs to rally them back, showing his ingenuity on the ball. He turned Gladwin Shitolo inside out in the first half and also delivered a cross that was hooked away for a corner. The youngster gave his all and was taken off in the 76 minutes and replaced by Dillan Solomons.
Mutizwa added his second in the 54th minute, caressing the ball at the near post after a great work by Nduduzo Sibiya who held the ball for long with no Chiefs player closing him down.
Petersen, having made the mistake for the first goal, redeemed himself with a save from Sibiya, parrying it away from danger when Arrows skipper was flicking it over.
Arrows’ joy and jubilation continues while Chiefs dire season is also worrying their fans, while Petersen’s position in goals needs to be looked at because he’s making mistakes that are costing the club.
