Arrows too sharp for Chiefs as Johnson era starts with a whimper

Knox Mutizwa and Golden Arrows piled the misery on Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday, Cavin Johnson’s first game in charge of Amakhosi ending in a 2-1 defeat at the Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammarsdale. 

Arrows might lack the prestige of Chiefs, but they are having an excellent season, Mabhuti Khenyeza’s side good value for a victory that lifts them back into second place in the DStv Premiership.

Zimbabwean striker Mutizwa clearly enjoys playing Amakhosi. This was the second successive season in which he scored twice in a league match against Chiefs, and his sixth goal overall against Amakhosi in eight seasons.

Johnson was handed the task this week of lifting Chiefs after Molefi Ntseki was fired on Monday, with the club basically out of the title race, and out of the MTN8 and Carling Knockout.

Frankly any coach, however, could be in charge of Kaizer Chiefs, and not account for the howler produced by Brandon Peterson to gift Arrows the lead in the 20^th minute.

The Chiefs goalkeeper attempted to control an innocuous back pass and stood on the ball, allowing Knox Mutizwa to step in and score his first DStv Premiership goal of the season.

Chiefs needed a quick response and got it within minutes, though the goal should never have stood. Edson Castillo whipped in a fine free kick and Sifiso Hlanti headed home at the back post.

The Chiefs left back was clearly offside but it was somehow missed by the match officials.

Chiefs gained confidence from that leveller and Reeve Frosler’s long range effort was spilled by Arrows goalkeeper Ismail Watenga. The Ugandan just got to the ball ahead of Mduduzi Shabalala but it still fell for Christian Saile, who blazed way off target.

Hlanti then came close to adding a second six minutes before half time, firing and effort just wide.

Tricky surface

The pitch at Mpumalanga Stadium, it must be said, looked mediocre at best, with the ball holding up on the surface, making smooth passing football tricky.

Five minutes after the break, Shabalala cut in from the left, but placed his curled effort well wide.

But Mutizwa was at it again in the 54th minute, as a fantastic run from Nduduzo Sibiya set him up, and he cooly beat Peterson.

Arrows almost added another three minutes later, as Sibiya sent in a brilliant cross, and Themba Mantshinyane’s header was brilliantly saved by Peterson.

Chiefs had a chance in the 75th minute as Saile got an effort away that was rather clumsily palmed away by Watenga.

In the 88th minute, Castillo was presented with an excellent chance, unmarked on the edge of the box, but his effort flew just over. And in the final minute of normal time, Watenga got the ball just ahead of substitute George Matlou, and Castillo couldn’t finish from just outside the box.