The Amakhosi defeated Golden Arrows for the fourth time in five league matches on Wednesday evening to move up a spot in the ABSA Premiership to tenth position one place above Mamelodi Sundowns who drew in Cape Town against Ajax on Wednesday.

Chiefs took the lead inside the first fifteen minutes and further goals from David Obua, Cyril Nzama and Gerald Sibeko saw Chiefs through to a memorable 4-2 win and it is the most goals they have ever scored against Arrows in a single match.

Arrows reverted to physical tactics in the second half with Mabhudi Khenyeza feeling the brunt of his former teammates and he watched the second half from a horizontal position as he was consistently fouled during the second half. Muhsin Ertugral though would lament the fact that he lost Derrick Spencer early on in the first half to a hamstring injury, and will in all likelihood be without the dynamic defender for Sunday’s trip to Bloemfontein to face Celtic.

Lightening Start

Muhsin Ertugral made it categorically clear to his players that he was looking for an improved showing on Wednesday, he could not complain as Chiefs had more shots on target in the first quarter of the game then they did throughout ninety minutes of play during their weekend draw with Santos.

Inside the first five minutes they made it known that they meant business, after some neat interchange of passes, which saw Cyril Nzama lay off the ball to Siphiwe Tshabalala who in turn picked out Mathebula. Who saw Tshabalala run into the 18 yard area, and sent the ball back to him Tshabalala with his left foot drove the ball towards goal. Arrows keeper Lupini could not hold onto Tshabalala’s powerful drive and needed the assistance of his defense to come to his aid and clear the ball.

Quick Silver Tshabalala

The Chiefs midfield were holding all the Aces in the opening exchanges with David Mathebula and Siphiwe Tshabalala running the Arrows defense ragged, it was some quick thinking from Tshabalala in the 13th minute that opened up the door for Chiefs.

When he intercepted a pass from Kagiso Dickgacoi just in front of the centre circle, he stole a march on the Arrows defense who were caught unsighted as he neared the opposition goal. Arrows keeper Lupini ran out and tried to narrow his angle, Tshabalala kept his cool and side footed the ball round and him into the net to give Chiefs a well deserved one goal advantage.

Arrows shoot

For a space of around eight minutes Chiefs seemed to go off the boil and Arrows pressed hard for an equalizer, a cross came in from the right in the 20th minute which Vusumuzi Vilakazi failed to connect with and the ball fell to another Arrows player Philane Shange who shot towards goal and forced Khune into pushing the ball over with one hand for a corner.

Seven minutes later and after Khune was forced into another one handed save, Arrows put pressure on Chiefs from the resulting corner Khune mistimed his run out and clashed into Shaun Bartlett who headed the ball clear. His clearance did not go far due to Khune tumbling into him and it fell to Philane Shange on the edge of the Chiefs area, he knocked the ball back in and Kagiso Dickgacoi standing two metres away from goal collected the ball and knocked the ball home to equalize for Arrows.

Oh so close

After losing their advantage Chiefs got back the strangle hold on the game and on the stroke of half time came within inches of regaining the lead, it was again the Mathebula – Tshabalala combination that was at the forefront of Chiefs move.

Mathebula worked some space for himself and through the lobbed ball over the Arrows defense, where Siphiwe Tshabalala was lurking. He lifted his head and saw Arrows keeper Lupini off his line and he in turn lobbed the keeper and has the ball sailed goalwards Bheka Phakhati raced back and headed the ball off the line and out for a corner. To ensure that the teams left for the break level at 1-1, and denied Tshabalala from adding a second goal to his tally.

Big save

Arrows game plan early in the second half seemed to be much the same as their first half tactics as they sat back and built up movement once Chiefs attacks had broken down. They did the same in the 57th minute and they launched a counter attack with Bilankulu down the right wing. He cut the ball across goal looking for one of his team mates but Cyril Nzama got to the ball first, his clearance fell only as far as Dickgacoi who hit a ferocious shot towards Khune who got up for the ground and pushed the ball over with one hand.

Obua fantastic

Arrows opted for a physical approach to the second half and Shaun Bartlett was one of their casualties as he got an elbow in the face in an off the ball incident. On the hour mark Siphiwe Tshabalala on the edge of the Arrows area was knocked down by Khuboni.

From the resulting free kick Tshabalala touched the ball forward to Obua who hit the ball powerfully towards goal; it managed to evade the Arrows wall and went under keeper Lupini to hand Chiefs the lead once again. For Obua it is the end of a 21 month goal drought, as he last found the back of the net for Chiefs in a league game during a 2-0 win over Bloemfontein Celtic on the 4th March 2006.

Captain’s goal

Nine minutes after Obua knocked Chiefs ahead Cyril Nzama used his head to push The Amakhosi further in front, Mabhudi Khenyeza was kicked about in the second half after coming on as a substitute by former team mate Bheka Phakathi.

It was when he was wrestled to the ground that David Mathebula stepped up on the right and swung a free kick towards goal, Lupini diving back wards got a hand to the ball and pushed it on to the head of Shaun Bartlett who headed the ball across goal to Cyril Nzama who finished off the move by heading home Chiefs third goal.

For Nzama it was a welcome relief as it also saw him break a long goal drought, it was the first time he found the back of the net in just over two years as his last goal was in December 2005.

Sublime Sibeko

Arrows managed to pull a goal back when Dickgacoi completed his brace by heading home a Musonda corner on eighty minutes, what ever hope they had of getting back into the game were dashed when Chiefs found a fourth with six minutes to go.

Mabhudi Khenyeza on the right saw off the challenge of Bheka Phakhati turned his marker took a few steps an laid the ball off to David Mathebula who played a sublime back heel to Gerald Sibeko who hit the ball across the face of goal and beat Lupini at the far post.

Kaizer Chiefs (4-4-1-1): 32. Itumeleng Khune, 4. Cyril Nzama, 28. Derrick Spencer,

29. Mokete Tsotetsi, 13. David Obua, 8. Tinashe Nengomasha, 24. David Mathebula,

14. Siphiwe Tshabalala, 18. Arthur Zwane, 27. Gerald Sibeko, 17. Shaun Bartlett

Substitutions:

Substitutes not used: 30. Emille Baron, 20. Sandile Zuke, 22. Mandla Masango,

7. Kaizer Motaung Junior




Cautions: Yellow Cards, 29. Mokete Tsotetsi (dissent) 55 min

Coach: Muhsin Ertugral


Assistant Coach: Fani Madida


Goalkeeper Coach: Rainer Dinkelacker

Lamontville Golden Arrows (4-4-2): 36. Miphy Lupini, 21. Siyabonga Sangweni,

25. Thanduyise Khuboni, 8. Bheka Phakati, 19. Vusumuzi Vilakazi, 28. Musa Bilankulu,

15. Philane Shange, 22. Kagisho Dikgacoi, 16. Abi Nale, 5. Joseph Musonda, 29. Njabulo Manqana

Substitutions:

Substitutes not used: 1. Brendan Wardle, 4. Billy Mwanza, 18. Billy Ratosana,

37. Vumani Mavundla

Cautions: Yellow Cards, 25. Thanduyise Khuboni (pulling down Siphiwe Tshabalala) 60 min

Coach: Manqoba Mnqithi


Assistant Coaches: Phera Ratlhankana & Mandla Ncikazi


Goalkeeper Coach: Moses Khanyeza

Match Officials:


Referee: Peter Mabuza


Assistant 1: Enoch Molefe


Assistant 2: Toko Malebo


4th Official: Paulo Marques


Match Commissioner: Adeel Carelse