Cavin Johnson began his Kaizer Chiefs interim coaching spell with 2-1 defeat to Golden Arrows in the DStv Premiership clash at the Mpumalanga Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Knox Mutizwa, who seems to have found his scoring boots, scored a brace for the home side while Sifiso Hlanti registered one for Amakhosi.
The Soweto giants made five changes from their last outing against AmaZulu FC, taking off Itumeleng Khune, Edmilson Dove, Lehlogonolo Matlou, Tebogo Potsane and Ranga Chivaviro.
They were replaced by Brandon Peterson, Sifiso Hlanti, Edson Castillo, Mduduzi Shabalala and Christian Saile.
Meanwhile, Arrows took off three players from their last match’s starting lineup against Cape Town City. Knox Mutizwa, Themba Matshiyane and Ismail Watenga came on for Lungelo Nguse, Ntsikelelo Nxadi and Olufemi Kayode.
The open exchanges in the first half were much more even with both teams finding space in attack, however, neither of them utilised their chances.
As time went on, there was a distinct lack of chances as the sides kept on exchanging jabs in the midfield.
TWO GOALS FOR BOTH SIDES IN A SPACE OF THREE MINUTES
In the 19th minute, Arrows opened the scoring through Mutizwa, exploiting Peterson’s blunder. The former Bidvest Wits ‘keeper failed to trap the back pass and lost control of the ball. And the Zimbabwean forward tapped to an empty net.
It took Cavin Johnson’s side only three minutes to level the scoreline through Hlanti’s header after a free-kick from Castillo.
The action continued at both ends of the pitch with both teams playing an open game and piling pressure on each other.
As the match approached the break, Hlanti came close to bagging a brace when he picked up the pieces after Abafana Bes’thende failed to clear the lines.
The match reached the interval with 1-1 scoreline on the board.
In the second half, teams started as aggressors, picking up where they left off as they were looking for second goals.
KNOX MUTIZWA’S BRACE
It was in the 54th minute when Mutizwa beat Peterson with a ground shot after he was set up by Sibiya. This was his second goal of the match and third from the last two games.
Soon after, Peterson was, again, called into action to repel Ryan Moon’s vicious effort inside the box. The striker nearly added the third goal for Arrows but Chiefs’ shotstopper made a finger-tip save.
Chiefs had several attempts to come back to the game but kept on losing the ball when reaching the final third. On the other hand, Mabhuti Khenyeza’s men looked to hit the visitors with a quick counter attack when they regain ball possession.
In the 75th minute, Watenga denied Chiefs an equaliser as he stopped Saile’s effort after receiving a defence splitting pass from Yusuf Maart. While Chiefs were seeking their fortune in the last ten minutes, the hosts didn’t lower their gears as they still looked dangerous when attacking.
The match went on until the final whistle with Arrows keeping maximum points at home.
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