Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Dec 31, 2022.
Golden Arrows (0) 0
Kaizer Chiefs (2) 2 (Bimenyimana 14’, Dove 37’)
Kaizer Chiefs resumed their DStv Premiership programme with a 2-0 victory over Golden Arrows at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday afternoon. Caleb Bimenyimana gave Chiefs the lead in the 14th minute with a sublime finish and also provided the assist for Edmilson Dove to score Chiefs’ second goal in the 37th minute. Amakhosi goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune was in fine form, putting in a consummate display to keep his goal intact to see Chiefs through to their second successive league win.
Khune was in action early on, lunging to his left to push out a hand and send away a dangerous looking close-range header from Ryan Moon, who rose up to meet a cross from the left in the 6th minute.
Despite Moon’s early chance at goal, Chiefs were making inroads down the right and in the 14th minute an exquisite pass from Keagan Dolly picked out Bimenyimana who turned Ntsikelelo Nxadi. He managed to swing round and connected perfectly with the ball, sending it wide of Sifiso Mlungwana to net his seventh league goal of the season and put Chiefs into the lead.
While Moon continued to be Arrows’ main protagonist with a number of half chances, Chiefs continued to exploit the space down the right. Dove managed to send the ball over the Arrows back line and Bimenyimana initially moved to attack the ball but, realizing he was offside, allowed Dolly to chase the ball down the right touchline. He managed to reach the ball and tried to pick out the Burundian with a return pass but Mlungwana intercepted, plucking the ball out of the air with 27 minutes gone.
On the half-hour mark, a good piece of interplay saw Reeve Frosler picked out in the Arrows 18-yeard area with a long searching ball from the left and manged to lay the ball off to Bimenyimana whose powerfully driven shot had Mlungwana off the ground pushing the ball one-handed over the bar and out to safety. Shortly thereafter, Yusuf Maart worked himself some space and sent the ball across the face of goal from the right but Bimenyimana was unable to connect and the chance drifted away.
Chiefs’ dominance paid dividends in the 37th minute when they doubled their lead. A Chiefs corner from the left saw Bimenyimana attempt an overhead kick> He was unable to execute but instead managed to guide the ball into Dove’s path. The Mozambican defender made no mistake, driving it past a stranded Mlungwana to put Chiefs 2-0 ahead. Four minutes before half time Mlungwana managed to spectacularly punch away a dangerous curling free kick from Dolly.
Chiefs lead 2-0 at half time.
The home team were fastest out of the starting blocks and, almost from the restart Nduduzo Sibiya, drove the ball powerfully towards goal from distance and it took another fine save from Khune to stop what seemed to be a goal that would bring Arrows back into the game.
Arrows were pressing hard to get back into the game but Khune was again in the way, this time in the 54th minute, acrobatically turning substitute Siyabonga Khumalo’s drive at goal away for a corner, from which the Chiefs skipper got the faintest of touches to send another attempt from Khumalo onto his post.
While Chiefs were under pressure for long periods in the second half, an opportunity did present itself for substitute Mduduzi Shabalala, who was set clear on goal by Bimenyimana. As he bore down on goal, he attempted to curl the ball around Mlungwana but the Arrows keeper stuck out a hand to block the 76th minute effort.
Arrows were reduced to ten men in second-half stoppage time when Khumalo, already on a yellow card, knocked over Kgaogelo Sekgota and was booked for a second time. He was given his marching orders leaving the hosts to play the remaining minutes a man short.
In a game where the old cliché that this was a game of two halves was appropriate, Chiefs made their chances count in the first half, while a strong defensive showing in the second period saw Amakhosi through to victory. Chiefs end 2022 undefeated in their last three league games as they end the year in fourth place, trailing third-placed SuperSport United only on goal difference. Amakhosi will be looking to continue building on that momentum in 2023.
Number of the Match 8 – Caleb Bimenyimana has made eight goal contributions this season. He scored his 7th league goal of the campaign in this game and made his first assist when setting up Edmilson Dove for Chiefs’ second goal.
Fact of the game – Kaizer Chiefs were facing Golden Arrows in a league game for the 43rd time and recorded their 22nd win. It was also Chiefs’ 10th away league win over Golden Arrows.
Chiefs are next in action at home on 7f January 2023 against Sekhukhune United.
Line-ups:
Arrows XI: Mlungwana (36); Gumbi (2) (Khumalo 46’), Lunga (3), Nxadi (27), Ndlovu (37), Dlamini (24), Sibiya (11), Moon (9) (Magubane 76’), Mmodi (13), Zuke © (15) (Mantshiyane 76’), Mutizwa (18)
Substitutes not used: Mbatha (28), Magawana (7), Shitolo (5),Fikizolo (34), Nkosi (25), Dube (23)
Cautions: Khumalo 60’, 90+4’ sent off for second bookable offence
Coaches: Vusimuzi Vilakazi and Mabhudi Khenyeza
Chiefs XI: Khune © (32); Kwinika (4), Dove (2), Hlanti (23), Frosler (39), Zwane (37) (Nj Ngcobo 83’), Maart (8), Nk Ngcobo (12) (Shabalala 68’), Dolly (10), Mahlatsi (5) (Sekgota 54’), Bimenyimana (28) (Duba 83’)
Substitutes not used: Bvuma (44); Solomons (18), Ngezana (30), Sithebe (6), Rabede (33)
Cautions: Maart 45+2’, Mahlatsi 49’
Coach: Arthur Zwane
