Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Aug 30, 2025.
Lamontville Golden Arrows (0) 0
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1
(Da Silva 69’)
Moses Mabhida stadium, Durban
It took barely 10 minutes for Flavio Da Silva to endear himself to the Amakhosi Faithful as he came off the bench to net the only goal of an entertaining Bewtay Premiership encounter against Lamontville Golden Arrows at Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban on Saturday.
The Portuguese striker, who joined before the start of the season tucked away the winning goal after 68 minutes to maintain Amakhosi’s undefeated start to the 2025/26 campaign, keeping them joint top of the table on 13 points from five matches, and still yet to concede a goal.
Nominally the away team but enjoying overwhelming support inside the stadium, Amakhosi picked up where they left off against Mamelodi Sundowns in midweek, hustling and pressurising Golden Arrows with their high press, not allowing them to settle.
If not for some wayward finishing, Chiefs ought to have scored from the numerous opportunities they created. In the 8th minute, Pule Mmodi made a threatening run down the left and his cross was cleared as far as Sibongiseni Mthethwa whose shot from outside the box was off target. Three minutes later, Ashley Du Preez latched on to a flicked pass from Siphesihle Ndlovu and ran through on goal, although his shot was saved by Xolani Ngcobo as a late challenge put him off balance at the last second.
Arrows somehow escaped in the 23rd minute when Thabiso Monyane’s cross was deflected and the ball ran right across the goal line with nobody there to tap it in.
Glody Lilepo curled a shot inches wide of the far post in the 32nd minute as Amakhosi sought the goal that heir overall superiority deserved. On more than one occasion Chiefs played the ball around inside the opposition box with defenders scrambling around in desperation to prevent a clear shot.
At the other end, Brandon Petersen came to Amakhosi’s rescue in the 38th minute as Sabelo Sithole broke through on goal, only to be denied by a good save.
Mduduzi Shabalala would have liked to celebrate his call up to the national squad with a goal but shot over the bar two minutes before the end of what was a scoreless first 45 minutes.
The second stanza was a largely scrappy affair and Chiefs were slightly fortunate in the 53rd minute when Junior Dion’s shot clipped the post.
Just before the hour mark, coach Nasreddine Nabi made a triple substitution, sending on Mfundo Vilakazi, Gaston Sirino and Da Silva, and it paid off handsomely 10 minutes later as all three combined beautifully to cut apart the Arrows defence, with Vilakazi sliding a sublime ball to Sirino behind the defence. He cut the ball across goal for Da Silva find the net with unerring accuracy.
Chiefs had chances to add a second, with Lilepo going close and Sirino firing a shot just wide, but in the end, the one goal was enough to take the Glamour Boys into the FIFA international break on the back of their fourth victory in five unbeaten league games so far.
Post match facts
This was the 49th league meeting between Chiefs and Golden Arrows, it was Chiefs’ 24th win.
Flavio Silva scored Chiefs' only goal, scoring on his debut, and becoming the first player from Guinea Bissau to score for Chiefs in a league match.
Silva is the third substitute to score for Chiefs in a league game this season.
Chiefs go through their first five league games of a season undefeated for the first time since 2014/15.
Chiefs are now seven league games without a loss going back to last season.
Chiefs have kept a clean-sheet in their last six league games, the first time since 2016/17.
Chiefs have kept a clean-sheet in their first five league games for the first time since 1979, and the second time in the club’s history.
Brandon Petersen is the first Chiefs goalkeeper since Itumeleng Khune in 2016/17 to keep six clean-sheets in a row.
Petersen is the first Chiefs goalkeeper since Joseph Banks Setlhodi in 1979 to keep five clean-sheets in a row in Chiefs’ opening five league games of a season.
Chiefs have gone 625 minutes without conceding a goal in league games.
Paseka Mako was the man of the match. Chiefs players have won the man of the match award in all five of their games this season.
Line-ups
Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen (1), Mako (29), Kwinika © (4), Miguel (84), Monyane (2), Mthethwa (5), Ndlovu (8) (Matlou (22) 90+2’), , Shabalala (7) (Sirino (10) 59’), Mmodi (13) (Vilakazi (28) 59’), Lilepo (99) (Cross (48) 85’), Du Preez (9) (Da Silva (77) 59’)
Subs not used: Ntwari (30), Frosler (39), Ngcobo (12), Hlongwane (31)
Coach: Nasreddine Nabi
Lamontville Golden Arrows: Ngcobo (31), Shitolo © (5), Sithole (29) (Sibiya (11) 70’), Phillips (33) (Zwane (41) 46’), Jiyane (4), Mthanti (8) (Booysen (39) 64’)), Dlamini (24) (Khumalo (36) 80’), Mabaso (38) (Cele (30) 64’), Komara (15), Dion (18), Maxwele (25)
Subs not used: Maova (34), Dube (23), Radebe (45), Mantshiyane (35)
Coach: Manqoba Mngqithi
