Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1
(McCarthy 39’)

Lamontville Golden Arrows (0) 0

Betway Premiership
FNB stadium, Nasrec

Kaizer Chiefs moved up to third spot in the Betway Premiership standings with a comfortable 1-0 win over Lamontville Golden Arrows at FNB stadium on Tuesday evening, in their first competitive outing of 2026.

Aiden McCarthy scored his first senior goal for the Club six minutes before halftime to give Chiefs their 25^th victory over Arrows in the 50^th meeting between the two sides, taking them up to 27 points from 14 matches.

Chiefs began the match with a spring in their step, making the early running and forcing Arrows into retreat. Siphesihle Ndlovu, who looked particularly lively in the first half, had Amakhosi’s first shot on target of the new year, forcing Thakasani Mbanjwa into a save from long range after beating his man neatly to make space for the shot. Flavio Da Siva also had an early shot blocked as the home side looked for an early advantage.

Gradually, the match settled and it became clear that both teams were attempting to get back into the swing of league football after the lengthy break due to the AFCON.

Still, Chiefs were the more positive, and put some impressive moves together, with Glody Lilepo looking dangerous on the right flank and Lebo Maboe, Ndlovu and Mduduzi Shabalala controlling the pace of the game in midfield.

At the other end, Arrows offered scant danger going forward as the well-marshalled home defence nullified any threat of potential counter-attacks early and decisively.

It took until the 39^th minute to break the duck for 2026 and it came from alert reactions from Aiden McCarthy, who reacted quickest to nod the ball home after Lilepo’s flick from Ndlovu’s dangerous inswinging free kick was fumbled by Mbanjwa a yard from the goal line. It was enough to send Chiefs into half-time with a deserved lead for their endeavours.

Chiefs were a touch lacklustre in the early stages of the second period, although they were never in any real danger of conceding an equaliser. It was on after the hour mark with the introductions off the bench that Amakhosi reestablished their dominance. Mfundo Vilakazi, in particular, made a real difference and worked Mbanjwa in the Abafana Bes’thende goal on more than one occasion, as well as setting up another sub, Khanyisa Mayo, for a header at goal. A third replacement, Thulani Mabaso, also had a shot saved as Chiefs sought a cushion goal to emphasise their superiority.

In the end, it was not needed and McCarthy’s effort was sufficient to come through with a full points haul and their 10th clean sheet of the season.

It bodes well for the team’s trip to Zambia later in the week to face Zesco United in the CAF Confederation Cup on Sunday.

Line ups

Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen © (1), McCarthy (35), Monyane (2) (Solomons (18) 64’), Miguel (14), Kwinika (4), Maboe (6) (Mabaso (34) 74’), Ndlovu (8), Mmodi (13), Shabalala (7) (Vilakazi (28) 64’), Lilepo (99) (Baartman (13) 74’), Da Silva (77) (Mayo (3) 74’)

Subs not used: Bvuma (44); Mako (29), Msimango (25), Velebayi (17)

Coaches: Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze

Lamontville Golden Arrows: Mbanjwa (27), Komara (15), Cisse (19) (Matlaba (28 86’), Mabaso (38), Jiyane © (4), Ndlovu (8) (Sithole (29) 86’), Dlamini (24), S. Cele (30) (Mafuleka (51) 63’), T. Khumalo (37) (Nguse (40) 86’), P. Khumalo (36) (Karelse (22) 63’), Maxwele (25)

Subs not used: Maova (34), B. Cele (44), Shezi (52), Booysen (39)

Coach: Manqoba Mngqithi