Arrows do the double over Amakhosi
HOSTS Golden Arrows snatched a late 2-1 win over Kaizer Chiefs in a Premiership match at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu yesterday.
It was a credit to the Premier Soccer League (PSL) that the match took place, after a ruling by SA Football Association arbitrator Nazeer Cassim that the match had to be rescheduled.
The match was scheduled for December, but Chiefs were unable to field a team after a Covid-19 outbreak at the club.
However, the PSL have challenged the arbitrator’s ruling. The matter will come before the Gauteng High Court on May 10.
If Chiefs win the case, yesterday’s result and score will stand. If the PSL win, Chiefs will be guilty of defaulting and Arrows will be awarded a 3-0 win.
The outcome meant that Chiefs were unable to avoid an unwanted record of being beaten twice by three different clubs in a Premiership season.
Arrows defeated Chiefs 1-0 in their first-round meeting and after this 2-1 win, Abafana Bes’thende became the third club to land the double over Amakhosi this season.
Royal AM and Stellenbosch FC have already defeated Chiefs twice in Premiership matches this season.
Both sides showed plenty of attacking intent from the outset yesterday, but Chiefs showed greater firepower as their high press forced Arrows onto the back foot.
For the second successive match, Chiefs opted to start with the once-famous ‘CBD’, comprising the attacking trio of Leonardo Castro, Khama Billiat and Keagan Dolly.
Behind them, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo and Reeve Frosler were added to the run-on XI, and they provided a midfield spark earlier on.
Once Arrows absorbed the early pressure, they started gaining the upper hand and enjoyed a possession advantage for the rest of the half.
Arrows were turned over deep inside the opposition half in the 16th minute, and they paid the price when Chiefs counter-attacked with telling effect.
A feed from deep to Castro saw the Colombian race down the right and make his way into the penalty area, where he was checked by two defenders. Once he had their attention, he slipped the ball between them and Billiat ran in to rifle the ball into the net.
Arrows turned to their bench 10 minutes from half-time and brought on Siboniso Conco for right back Sbonelo Cele.
Despite a superior 52% possession, Arrows had one shot on goal by the time the first half ended.
After the break, it was all Chiefs as Dolly and Billiat tormented the Arrows defence. Billiat went close to scoring 15 minutes into the half, but Arrows’ defence came away unscathed during this phase.
Against the run of play, Arrows equalised before the hour mark. A pass by Chiefs left back Njabulo Ngcobo was intercepted by Conco, and he slipped the ball past goalkeeper Brandon Petersen.
Another blunder by Ngcobo moments later nearly resulted in a second goal by Conco, but his shot went wide.
Another Arrows substitute, Michael Gumede, was on target four minutes from time as Chiefs suffered their third defeat on the trot.