Chiefs draw with Arrows
Chiefs draw with Arrows

Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Apr 24, 2019.

23 April 2019

Chiefs draw with Arrows

Kaizer Chiefs                        (0) 1 (Moleko 77’)

Golden Arrows                    (1) 1 (Sibiya 33’)

Kaizer Chiefs and Golden Arrows shared the points in an Absa Premiership match at FNB Stadium on Tuesday evening. The visitors took the lead in the first half, after which Kgotso Moleko equalised in the second half with a headed goal. The game finished in a 1-all draw.

Khama Billiat had a muscle strain and therefore didn’t play against Arrows. coach Ernst Middendorp also made some further changes to the starting XI. One of them was bringing Hendrick Ekstein back into the team, playing in a position just behind striker Bernard Parker.

Arrows tried to keep it tight, not allowing the home side much space to play their normal free flowing soccer.

Chiefs were the better side, even though it didn’t result in too many box entries.

The first real chance arrived in the 28th minute when a ferocious shot at goal by Philani Zulu from outside the box hit the crossbar.

Soon thereafter the ball fell for Ekstein at around the penalty spot, but the midfielder lifted the ball over the sidebar.

Reeve Frosler did well on the right wing, trying to create some danger on the flank, while Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya operated on the left.

Arrows’ first opportunity to score came in the 33rd minute and it was resulted in a goal. Nduduzo Sibiya curled the ball past the stretched Daniel Akpeyi into the top corner.

Despite the set-back, Amakhosi continued to be the better side, with Dumsani Zuma creating the most danger up-front for the home side.

The half-time score was 0-1, which wasn’t a true reflection of the first half.

Coach Middendorp decided to ring the changes at half-time bringing in a striker, Ryan Moon, in place of an attacking midfielder, Ekstein.

Chiefs came out of the dressing room aggressively, looking at dominating the game, pushing numbers forward and trying to get a few goals.

There was a shot from Willard Katsande at goal from distance, but the ball flew wide.

The Glamour Boys kept on pushing and pushing, but Arrows defended in numbers, which didn’t make it easy to create clear goalscoring opportunities.

Coach Middendorp made some more changes in the 74th minute, bringing on Joseph Molangoane for Ntiya-Ntiya and George Maluleka for Andrianarimanana.

It was great to see Molangoane back on the pitch after an absence of nearly eighth months as a result of his broken leg sustained in August 2018.

Chiefs’ long-awaited goal finally arrived in the 77th minute. Maluleka put a great ball into the box from a corner to find Kgotso Moleko’s head. The ball flew as a rocket past the Arrows goalkeeper, hitting the back of the net, 1-1.

The home side continued to push for the winning goal, but it wasn’t to be. The game ended in a stalemate.

Key moment in the match:

That must be the powerful header from Kgotso Moleko in the 77th minute. The defender rose high above his opponents and headed the ball in goal. It was the equaliser.

Most Valuable Player (MVP):

Dumsani Zuma created danger up-front, while Bernard Parker worked hard, often trying to make life as difficult as possible for the Golden Arrows defenders. Another doing well was Philani Zulu, who had a central midfield role. In the end, Arrows defender Musa Bilankulu was selected as the Man of the Match.

What it means:

It means that Kaizer Chiefs have collected 38 points from 27 games, remaining in seventh position on the Absa Premiership log.

Kaizer Chiefs 11: Akpeyi; Frosler, Moleko, Cardoso; Katsande, Andrianarimanana (Maluleka 75’), Zulu, Ekstein (Moon 46’), Ntiya-Ntiya (Molangoane 74’); Zuma, Parker

Subs not used: Bvuma, Booysen, Mphahlele, Gordinho

Golden Arrows 11: Mbaeva; Sibisi, Bilankulu, Mzava, Lunga; Conco (Sibeko 78’), Zuke (Lamola 88’), Phiri, Sibiya; Mathenjwa (S. Dube 79’), Mutizwa

Subs not used: Gumede, Zwane, L. Dube, Mathiane

Next Match:

Kaizer Chiefs will face Bloemfontein Celtic on the road in an Absa Premiership clash at Polokwane’s Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday, 27 April. Kick-off is at 20:15.

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