Manyama the big Chief as Khosi rise
KAIZER CHIEFS Manyama 31’, 74’, 79’ GOLDEN ARROWS (1)(2) Gumede 21’, Mathoho (OG) 62’
KAIZER Chiefs had no room to mourn the sacking of coach Gavin Hunt against Golden Arrows at FNB Stadium last night. They played like men possessed as they came from behind twice to beat Arrows 3-2 to keep their slim chances of finishing in the top eight alive.
After the penultimate round of matches in the Premiership, Chiefs are ninth on the standings with 33 points, three points behind the eighth-placed TS Galaxy who were held to a 0-0 draw by relegation-threatened Stellenbosch FC away from home.
There was a time in yesterday’s match when Chiefs’ supporters must have felt: here we go again! That they were on the backfoot early on has been one of the reasons which led to Chiefs’ demise this season. Amakhosi, though, had a strong finish to the first half after grabbing the equaliser.
They showed a never-say-die attitude in the second half. Despite trailing for a second time in the match through an unfortunate own goal from Eric Mathoho, the introduction of Nkosingiphile Ngcobo gave the home team a breath of fresh air going forward.
Ngcobo made a daring run into the box before laying off the ball for an onrushing Lebogang Manyama, who poked it past an onrushing Sifiso Mlungwana. The Under-23 goalkeeper struggled with a shoulder injury for the duration of the match.
Ngcobo and Manyama yet again combined for the winner. Ngcobo set-up Manyama who slotted past Mlungwana in front of goal for his third. The win set up Chiefs well for a possible finish in the top eight. They will meet TS Galaxy in their last game of the season on Saturday.
Interim Chiefs coaches Arthur Zwane and Dillon Sheppard came into yesterday’s match under pressure, following a dismal nine months under Hunt. Hunt was fired after a string of poor results in domestic football, despite an campaign.
Chiefs may be languishing in the bottom half of the Premiership standings, but they are in the semi-finals of the Caf Champions League where they will face Wydad Casablanca next month.
Zwane and Sheppard, who knew that a strong finish to the league would be a huge morale-booster heading into continental semis, didn't change too much from the defeat against relegated Black Leopards, starting with Bruce Bvuma in goals ahead of Daniel Akpeyi.
Bruce is proving to be colossal for the team. Despite Chiefs losing 3-0 against Simba SC in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, he made crucial saves that ensured they still won the tie 4-3.
Even against Arrows, he made early saves, including a pin-point stop to deny Knox Mutizwa from close-range. Even when Michael Gumede put his side ahead with a rebound shot that came off Mathoho, Bvuma made the initial stop.
With Bvuma proving to be a brick wall in Chiefs’ defence, the team’s attacking contingent started to gain momentum yesterday. They nearly had an immediate response, but Mlungwana was saved from his blushes, after spilling the ball, by his defenders who regrouped.
But there was no denying Chiefs the equaliser after the half-hour mark as, Willard Katsande raced his way into Arrows’ box before setting up Manyama who slotted past Mlungwana.
Chiefs looked to be the more offensive team heading into the break and in the second half. impressive continental