Amakhosi record third successive win with victory over Arrows.
Amakhosi record third successive win with victory over Arrows.

Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Oct 02, 2019.

1 October 2019

 

Kaizer Chiefs               (1) 2 (Cardoso 27’, Sibisi o.g. 60’)

Golden Arrows           (0) 0

 

Kaizer Chiefs made it three league wins in a row with victory over Golden Arrows on a chilly evening at the FNB Stadium on Tuesday. For the supporters in attendance, the evening was warmed up by Chiefs’ scintillating passing and good combination play in a game dominated by the Glamour Boys. Daniel Cardoso calmly converted a penalty in the 27th minute to give Chiefs the lead, the points were sealed for Chiefs when Nkhosinathi Sibisi turned the ball into his own net in the 60th minute.

Chiefs were dominating the midfield early on with all good things being orchestrated by Kearyn Baccus who was pulling the strings. From a deep position in the 13th minute Baccus got Chiefs on the attack with the ball eventually finding Khama Billiat in a move involving a number of players. Billiat unleashed a shot from the edge of the 18-yard area which went just past the right hand upright of the Arrows goal.

Daniel Akpeyi made a routine save in the 17th minute standing his ground to pluck a Knox Mutizwa volley out of the air after the Arrows attacker had made contact with a Sibusiso Sibeko cross from the right on the turn.

Debutant Njabulo Blom sold Arrows defender Mathome Mathiane` a dummy in the 25th minute before sending in a beautifully weighted ball from the right which Edmore Sibande intercepted but could only deflect into the path of Khama Billiat whose attempted shot at goal hit the arm of Siybonga Dube. Referee Olani Kwinda pointed to the penalty spot and Carodso stepped up and sent Sibanda the wrong way to convert the penalty and hand Amakhosi the lead.

Arrows threatened the Chiefs goal in the 35th minute after a move which saw them piece together a number of passes when Dube found Sibusiso Sibeko with a quick pass forward inside the Chiefs 18-yard area, as the latter bore down on goal his attempt at the target was blocked by a sliding Yagan Sasman who blocked the ball sending it out for a corner.

Three minutes before half-time the Chiefs goal survived an attack as a powerful shot from distance by Danny Phiri was curled beyond a diving Akpeyi who was at full stretch, but the ball went past him and beyond his left hand up right. On the stroke of half-time quick thinking by Baccus saw him back track and block a Mutizwa free kick on the goal line to ensure that Chiefs went in 1-0 ahead at half time.

Chiefs made their first change at the start of the second of the second half with Siyabonga Ngezana coming on for Sasman.

On the hour mark Chiefs doubled their lead a cross from the right by Lebogang Manyama was flicked with the head by Billiat past Sibanda and onto the far post, where Arrows defender Nkosinathi Sibisi in an attempt to clear the ball knocked it into his own goal.

In the 73rd minute, coach Middendorp introduced Dumsani Zuma who replaced Baccus.

Arrows had the chance to cut the arrears in the 78th minute Phiri’s driven shot from a distance was blocked by Akpeyi but he could not hold onto the ball, Mutizwa raced in to finish off the rebound but he drove his shot over the goal.

Chiefs’ final change came in the 81st minute when Lorenzo Gordinho came on for Blom.

The victory saw Chiefs open up a four-point gap at the top of the table over second place Bidvest Wits, with this game seeing Chiefs keeping their third successive clean-sheet in the league following on from a 2-0 win over AmaZulu and a 1-0 win over Baroka.

Key moment in the match:

Njabulo Blom’s introduction and impressive performance at right back was key as it demonstrated the work done by the Kaizer Chiefs Youth Academy. The 19-year-old defender had a solid game and is one for the future.

 

Most Valuable Player (MVP):

Again, a number of players put up their hands for the award. Daniel Akpeyi did well again stopping Arrows’ attacks. Baccus was instrumental in the midfield but the Man of the Match award went to Khama Billiat, who had a great game and had an influence in the two goals scored by the Glamour Boys.



 

What it means:

Chiefs won their three games played in seven days. This means Chiefs go into the break still at the top of the log standings with 19 points in the bag from 8 games. Amakhosi’s next Absa Premiership match will be played on 27 October.

 

Number of the match 350:

This was Chiefs’ 350th league win in the PSL era since the formation of the Premier Soccer League in 1996-97. It was Chiefs’ 722nd league game in this time.

 

Fact of the match:

Chiefs ended a five-game winless run in league games against Golden Arrows with this win, which was their first over Arrows since 21st December 2016 when Chiefs won 2-0 away from home.

 

Line-ups:

Chiefs: Akpeyi; Sasman (Ngezana 46’), Mathoho, Cardoso, Blom (Gordinho 81’), Katsande ©, Manyama, Parker, Billiat, Baccus (Zuma 73’); Kambole

Subs not used:  Bvuma, Mashiane, Twala, Castro

 

Arrows: Sibanda; S. Dube, Sibisi, Mathiane, Lunga; Makhubela, Phiri, Shitolo, Mtshali (Sibiya 69’), Mutizwa (18); Sibeko (Phewa 67’).

 

Subs not used: Mbaeva, L. Dube, Nkombelo, Venter, Parusnath

Next Match:

The FIFA International break will start next week. Chiefs will keep busy with two friendly matches. On Saturday 12 October Amakhosi will face Mamelodi Sundowns in a Shell Ultra Helix Cup friendly at FNB Stadium. The following day (13 October), the team will travel to Bloemfontein to face Celtic in the annual Macufe Cup.

 

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