Johnson’s Chiefs Debut Ends in Defeat to High-Flying Arrows

On Saturday afternoon, Kaizer Chiefs suffered their third consecutive defeat across all competitions as they lost 2-1 to high-flying Golden Arrows in the DStv Premiership.

The Glamour Boys made five changes to the side that lost to AmaZulu in the Carling Knockout, as goalkeeper Brandon Petersen, Sifiso Hlanti, Edson Castillo and Christian Saile were recalled while Mduduzi Shabalala made only his second start.

Amakhosi showed good combination play going forward in the early exchanges but they could not get behind a deep lying Arrows defence.

On 20 minutes, Petersen slipped in wet conditions from a back pass by Thatayaone Ditlhokwe and Knox Mutizwa pounced on his mistake and scored into an empty net. Chiefs responded four minutes later as Hlanti equalised with a header at the back post from a cross by Castillo from a set-piece routine.

Amakhosi remained on the front foot and Saile had a good chance just after the half-hour mark after shot-stopper Ismael Watenga spilled a shot by Frosler but the Congolese fired his shot over the crossbar.

Just before the break, Mutizwa restored the lead for Mabhuti Khenyeza’s troops with a side-footed shot in the box after a cut-back by Nduduzo Sibiya.

Chiefs went for a different approach 13 minutes before time, as George Matlou replaced Saile and Dillan Solomons came on for Shabalala in a double tactical change.

Despite being dangerous in the dying minutes, Amakhosi were unable to find the equaliser and Abafana Bes’thende held on to move up to second on the log.

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