Kaizer Chiefs suffered a third straight across all competitions after losing 2-1 to high-flying Golden Arrows on Saturday afternoon.
DStv Premiership
Result: Golden Arrows 2-1 Kaizer Chiefs
Date: 28 October 2023
Venue: Mpumalanga Stadium
Amakhosi made five changes to the side that lost to AmaZulu in the Carling Knockout, as goalkeeper Brandon Petersen, Sifiso Hlanti, Edson Castillo and Christian Saile were recalled while Mduduzi Shabalala made only his second start.
The Glamour Boys showed good combination play going forward in the early exchanges but they could not get behind a deep lying Arrows defence.
As they tried to play from the back, Chiefs were punished on 20 minutes after Petersen slipped in wet conditions from a back pass by Thatayaone Ditlhokwe and Knox Mutizwa pounced on his mistake and scored into an empty net.
Cavin Johnson's charges responded four minutes later as Hlanti equalised with a header at the back post from a cross by Castillo from a set-piece routine.
Amakhosi remained on the front foot and Saile had a good chance just after the half-hour mark after shot-stopper Ismael Watenga spilled a shot by Frosler but the Congolese fired his shot over the crossbar.
Chiefs had the momentum towards the interval as Hlanti came close to giving them the lead with a strike from a rebound that missed narrowly wide of the bottom corner. Amakhosi started the second stanza on a back foot after Mutizwa restored the lead for Mabhuti Khenyeza's troops eight minutes from the break and got his brace with a side-footed shot in the box after a cut-back by Nduduzo Sibiya.
The visitors were caught cold again, as they almost went 3-1 down moments later but Petersen kept out close-range flicked header by Themba Mantshiyane with an out-stretched save on the line.
Chiefs went for a different approach 13 minutes before time, as George Matlou replaced Saile and Dillan Solomons came on for Shabalala in a double tactical change.
Arrows defended in numbers, as the absorbed the pressure but Chiefs were dangerous in the dying minutes as Castillo and Jasond Gonzalez came close.
Abafana Bes'thende held on in the end as they moved up to second on the log, just four points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns while Amakhosi suffered their fifth defeat of the league season.
Here's how they lined up:
Golden Arrows: 1. Watenga, 5. Shitolo, 12. Ndwandwe, 23. Dube, 35. Mantshiyane, 39. Cross, 14. van Rooi, 18. Mutizwa, 42. Theron, 11. Sibiya, 6. Tlolane
Subs: 32. Gumede, 41. Zwane, 9. Moon, 17. Mhlongo, 38. Mthanti, 27. Nxadi, 40. Nguse, 25. Motloung, 31. Ncube
Kaizer Chiefs: 1. Petersen, 23. Hlanti, 24. Ditlhokwe, 37. Ngcobo, 39. Frosler, 8. Maart, 17. Castillo, 5. Mthethwa, 42. Shabalala, 10. Dolly, 21. Saile
Subs: 32. Khune, 25. Msimango, 4. Kwinika, 18. Solomons, 37. Zwane, 22. Matlou, 11. Potsane, 12. Ngcobo, 14. Gonzalez
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