KWAMASHU – It never rains but pours for Kaizer Chiefs these days.
It was another gloomy and dark night for Amakhosi on Saturday as they were shot down 2-1 by Lamontville Golden Arrows in a rainy evening of football at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu.
Giovanni Solinas persisted with the central pairing of Eric Mathoho and Teenage Hadebe for Chiefs after the pair did a decent job against Zimamoto midweek in the Caf Confederation Cup.
Mario Booysen and Siyabonga Ngezana were dropped straight into stands as they didn’t even make the bench.
Chiefs have been found wanting so many times this season, and it was a similar story this time around. They commenced the season with Ngezana and Daniel Cardoso at the heart of defence, and then it was Cardoso and Mathoho.
Arrows went for pace in their attack in form of Siboniso Conco, Lerato Lamola, Knox Mutizwa and Danny Venter.
Chiefs dominated the early proceedings. Kabelo Mahlasela came close to breaking the deadlock on 21 minutes, but his attempt sailed wide.
Chiefs’ defensive frailties continued when Mathoho fouled Lamola in the box, and Limbikani Mzava converted the penalty to put the hosts in the lead.
Five minutes later, Arrows were awarded another penalty when Hadebe brought down Conco in the box, and Mzava completed his brace by beating Itumeleng Khune with power.
The game plan worked perfectly for Arrows. The instructions were clear – run at that Chiefs defence and you will get the rewards, and they certainly did.
Abafana Bes’thende nearly made it 3-0 five minutes before the interval, but Khune made a fantastic save to deny Conco.
The pitch was pathetic at Princess Magogo and disrupted the flow of the game, as both sides couldn’t pass the ball around easily.
Billiat should have reduced the deficit six minutes into the second half, but fluffed his lines as he ballooned the ball over the bar.
Leonardo Castro pulled one back for Amakhosi following a moment of madness in Arrows’ defence. Max Mbaeve failed to catch the ball cleanly, and it fell into the path of Castro, who finished with ease.
Clinton Larsen consolidated the Arrows midfield immediately after conceding. He sacrificed Venter and added Nkanyiso Cele to play alongside Musa Bilankulu and Thabo Molefe.
Chiefs were dealt a blow when Ramahlwe Mphahlele sustained an injury and was pulled off.
#AbsaPrem- RESULT:
Two penalties from Limbikani Mzava were enough to see Kaizer Chiefs handed yet another defeat. Golden Arrows went down to 10 men after Bilankulu was handed his marching orders. pic.twitter.com/98F0p1Y32R
— SuperSport (@SuperSportTV) December 1, 2018
Solinas threw in Lebogang Manyama and Dumsani Zuma in his search for the equaliser as they replaced Kabelo Mahlasela and Bernard Parker.
Chiefs enjoyed all the possession in the second half as Arrows were sitting back and protecting their lead.
Mbaeva saved his blushes with a brilliant block in the dying minutes of the game to deny Billiat.
3 points secured tonight against Kaizer Chiefs #AbsaPrem #BuildingTheBrand pic.twitter.com/e9dKwASgls
— Golden Arrows FC (@goldenarrowsfc1) December 1, 2018
Chiefs were pushing hard for the equaliser, but it never came, with even Khune going as far as taking a free kick.
Arrows finished the game with 10 men after Bilankulu was given his marching orders in optional time.
The pressure is mounting on Solinas. Positive results are imperative for him going forward if he wants to stay long at Naturena.
@Minenhlecr7