A Daniel Cardoso penalty and a Nkosinathi Sibisi own goal guided Kaizer Chiefs to a 2-0 victory over Golden Arrows in the Absa Premiership on Tuesday evening.
Chiefs came into the game searching for a third win in a row which would keep them top of the log, while Arrows, under former Chiefs boss Steve Komphela, would have been desperate to pull one over the Soweto giants.
Ernst Middendorp was forced into three changes with goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi replacing Itumeleng Khune, while Njabulo Blom and Willard Katsande ran on for Reeve Frosler and George Maluleka.
The changes didn’t break Chiefs’ rhythm as they started the game on the front foot but lacked the clinical edge in the final third.
Amakhosi were gifted the opener with 25 minutes gone as Khama Billiat’s strike hit the hand of Arrows defender Siyabonga Dube. Daniel Cardoso was tasked with taking the spot kick and the central defender made no mistake in coolly slotting home to give his side the lead.
Arrows looked for a response and they almost got it when Dube slipped Sibusiso Sibeko through on goal with 14 minutes left in the half, but Yagan Sasman produced a great last-ditch block to keep his side in the lead.
Komphela’s men were applying all the pressure in the closing stages of the first half thanks to some desperate defending, and Chiefs went into the break ahead thanks to a goalline clearance by Kearyn Baccus.
The Abafana Bes’thende onslaught did not stop after the break but they lacked the final ball on a number of occasions.
Chiefs, though, doubled their lead on the hour mark when Billiat hit the upright with a header before Nkosinathi Sibisi turned the ball into his own net.
With 12 minutes remaining, Knox Mutizwa had a golden chance to get back into the game when Akpeyi spilled a shot from distance, but the forward couldn’t keep his volley down as he blazed over the bar.
Chiefs then looked to control the pace of the game as they managed to see out the remainder of the half, walking away with a clean sheet and three points to extend their lead at the top of the table.
