Chiefs cruise past Arrows
WITH a bit of consistency any one of the Absa Premiership title contenders can run away with the championship.
That’s the view of Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela after his team registered backto-back wins when they eased past Golden Arrows 2-0 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium last night.
A headed goal in each half from Bernard Parker and Siphiwe Tshabalala brought some respectability to the Glamour Boy’s stature as they secured only their sixth win of the league to reach the midway point on 21 points.
Chiefs are in fourth, one point behind the trio of Supersport United, Wits and Cape Town City who are separated by goal difference.
Parker’s goal off a Ramahlwe Mphahlele cross, with assistance from Joseph Molangoane, was his second of the campaign.
He opened his account in the last game, a 3-2 win over Polokwane City, where winger Molangoane also scored his first goal in a Chiefs jersey.
The pair were influential figures again last night.
Their performances highlighted the need for consistency their coach spoke about after the match.
“We still have lots of work to do. There is too much of inconsistency in the league; it is most unbelievably inconsistent. If any team can get some consistency they will take it,” said Komphela of the title race.
All the top sides, Cape Town City, Wits and Supersport United have dropped points.
Even defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who play their ninth game today after a busy international schedule involving CAF and Fifa club tournaments, lost twice already.
On Tuesday, Wits inexplicably drew 1-1 against a Maritzburg United side that equalised while playing the second half with 10 men.
Last night Parker and Molangoane took off where they finished against Polokwane.
In a match that didn’t scale great heights, they stood out in the Chiefs attack, constantly scouring for openings.
Parker lead the line, and drifted wide and into midfield, while Molangoane provided a regular outlet for Chiefs on the right flank.
The break for Christmas and the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon in January came too soon for them, just when they were getting going.
Against a stubborn Arrows side, Parker’s 29th minute goal got the crowd behind them and they ground out the result thanks to Tshabalala’s 79th minute header off Molango- ane’s supply.
That pretty much killed Abafana Bes’thende, who rallied after the interval through substitute midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi.
He added greater steel to the middle and forced Chiefs on the back foot, but Arrows lacked a spearhead in attack.
The best chances they had fell to Andile Fikizolo whose shot was blocked, and Danny Phiri, whose long-range effort was almost fumbled into goal by Brilliant Khuzwayo.
The loss stretched Arrows’ winless run to six matches and the break comes at an ideal time for Larsen to re-strategise and scour the market for reinforcements.
“We need up to four players – a striker, a midfielder to complement Dikgacoi and Musa Bilankulu, and a few on the side,” said Larsen who was otherwise happy with Arrows’ performance in the first half of the league marathon.