Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0
Golden Arrows (0) 1
Shitolo 57’
Golden Arrows stunned Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 in the Betway Premiership clash at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday.
Amakhosi suffered a second loss in their last three games and dropped sixth on the Betway Premiership standings.
For Abafana Bes’thende, it was a first win for interim coaching duo Musa Bilankulu and Kagiso Dikgacoi, one that saw them leapfrog Chiefs into fifth on the standings.
Arrows stunned all in attendance when they broke the deadlock against the run of play via defender Gladwin Shitolo during a set-piece in the 57th minute.
The club captain expertly positioned himself to tap into an empty net after Bruce Bvuma pushed a shot in his direction and he composed himself and put his side in front.
Having come back from behind to beat a strong Stellenbosch side in their last outing, the expectations were high when they took to the field under wet conditions in Durban.
Head coach Nasreddine Nabi entrusted brace hero from the last game Wandile Duba with leading the line of attack whilst 19-year-old winger Mfundo Vilakazi received an unfamiliar starting berth.
With their goalless draw against AmaZulu in the same stadium a week ago still in their minds, Arrows began the match with fresh attacking impetus.
Although outnumbered in support, they began with more confidence and moved the ball with better precision.
However, Chiefs seemed to grow more into the game and created the game’s first real chance in the 13th minute.
On-form 20-year-old Mduduzi Shabalala was unsurprisingly at the heart of it all and he manoeuvred an opportunity for Tebogo Potsane but the winger’s volley went over the bar.
The more the game dragged on, the more pressure seemed to increase on Arrows, who all of a sudden played on the backfoot, looking to spring on the counter attacks.
Although with momentum, Chiefs lacked the necessary cutting edge in the final third.
The next big chance would fall for Arrows via a set-piece in the 36th minute as Bruce Bvuma was called upon to make an expert save with Siyanda Mthanti’s devilish delivery reaching his palms.
Chiefs tried to up the ante as the game drew closer to half time and were almost rewarded when Shabalala ran through and beat Ismail Watenga but Nduduzo was on hand to stop
Nabi would’ve been left frustrated at the amount of chances his side were able to generate without scoring as the game went into the half time break goalless.
That trend continued even after they had conceded a goal as second half substitute Reeve Frosler toe poked an effort onto the upright after a Bradley Cross free-kick delivery in the far post.
The pressure of needing to bounce back for the second game in a row seemed to add anxiety into Chiefs plans as they rushed their build us and threatened Arrows less until the final whistle.
Chiefs will have a full seven days to pick themselves up before they have to welcome Sekhukhune United in Durban next Sunday while Arrows recover before meeting TS Galaxy in Hammarsdale.