An injury time strike by substitute Norman Smith sealed a 1-0 victory for Golden Arrows over Kaizer Chiefs at the Oppenheimer Stadium in Orkney.

Smith popped up in injury time to score Arrows first victory over Chiefs in almost four years. Smith’s injury time strike was just rewards for Arrows who were the more exciting and enterprising team, although it must be added that Chiefs played out the last ten minutes of the game with ten men. After Rotson Kilambe had to leave the field through injury, with Chiefs having already made three substitutions they were forced to finish the game a man less.

It was the visitors who managed to create two chances within the space of a minute inside the first ten minutes as they won back to back corners, first up Mabuthi Khanyeza had his path to goal blocked in the fifth minute. After he had collected a corner on the right taken by Philane Shange, Khanyeza could not get past Fabian McCarthy who got between the ball and the goal to block the Arrows strikers shot. From the ensuing corner Arrows could have taken the lead as Shange floated the ball in Siyabonga Sangweni ran in unchecked into the Chiefs 18 yard area, he managed to head the ball against the Chiefs up right.

Ten minutes later and Arrows again held the Chiefs goal to ransom once again it was from a corner as Shange played a low ball to Khanyeza who some how got the ball and Shange was able to head the ball forward, towards Sehloho Nale who shot first time at Fernandez. The Chiefs keeper though made a superb one handed stop to deny the young Arrows striker, the troublesome Philane Shange had the last say of the first half but all he could do was kick the ball high and wide as the first half ended goalless.

While Arrows could lay claim to have had control of the first half it was The Amakhosi who had the first shot at goal two minutes into the second half, after a mix up in the Arrows defence. Allowed for Serge Djiehoua to lay on a pass to Rotson Kilambe who unleashed a ferocious shot in the direction of the Arrows goal, had it not been for an Arrows defender throwing himself in the path of the ball Chiefs could have been in the lead. A couple of minutes later and Chiefs continued to push forward, in the fiftieth minute Arthur Zwane who had come on a second half substitute crossed the ball towards Djiehoua. Who then returned the favour with a quick pass back to Zwane, who in turn teed up a shot for Siyabonga Nkosi unfortunately Nkosi’s shot was not powerful enough to trouble the Golden Arrows keeper Phiri who easily collected the ball.

As the game entered the last quarter Mabuthi Khanyeza collected a ball on the left and was able to fight off the challenge of Cyril Nzama, Khanyeza found Rowen Fernandez in an ungiving mood. As the Chiefs keeper narrowed Khanyeza’s view of the goal and was able to block his strike at goal, in the 80th minute Serge Djiehoua lost the ball and Arrows quickly launched a counter attack. The ball eventually reached Norman Smith who was lurking at the edge of the Chiefs 18 yard area, Smith collected the ball took a few steps and launched a shot towards goal. Once again Rowen Fernandez came up triumphs as he dived full length across the face of goal to push the ball to safety.

In the 82nd minute Chiefs were reduced to ten men as Rotson Kilambe hobbled off the pitch, and Chiefs numerical disadvantaged in the final minutes of the game proved to be their undoing. When in injury time Arrows launched a final attack as Norman Smith raced into the Chiefs 18 yard area, the Chiefs defence were anticipating a cross towards Mabuthi Khanyeza. Instead Smith caught them flat footed as he took on the responsibility himself with a shot that beat Fernandez at his near post and rolled into the back of the net, which resulted in a deadly silence engulfing the stadium.

With two consecutive league defeats Chiefs could have cancelled themselves out of the league race, The Amakhosi do get the opportunity to take some revenge over Golden Arrows when the two teams meet in a fortnights time at the same venue in an ABSA Cup round of 32 match.

Line Up’s: Kaizer Chiefs: 1. R. Fernandez, 2. J. Tau, 4. C. Nzama, 6. F. McCarthy, 33. D. Mototo, 8. T. Nengomasha, 27. G. Sibeko (18. Zwane 46 min),

11. E. Ngobese (25. Schalkwyk 65 min), 10. S. Nkosi, 22. R. Kilambe,

7. K. Motaung Junior (9. Djiehoua 46 min)

Substitutes: 16. R. Wuest, 28. D. Spencer, 18. A. Zwane, 13. D. Obua, 9. S. Djiehoua,

31. D. Radebe, 25. G. Schalkwyk

Coach: Ernst Middendorp

Lamontville Golden Arrows: 1. D. Phiri, 4. B. Mwanza, 5. C. Kampamba,

6. P. Zothwane (6. Phakathi 76 min), 16. S. Nale (26. Smith 69 min), 21. S. Sangweni, 24. J. Henyekane, 25. T. Kuboni, 33. K. Dikgacoi, 34. P. Shange (9. Meiring 68 min),

17. M. Khanyeza

Substitutes: 36. B. Wardle, 7. N. Zothwane, 8. B. Phakathi, 9. A. Meiring, 15. M. Nxele, 19. V. Vilakazi, 26. N. Smith, 30. B. Twala

Coach: Manqoba Mngqithi

Cautions: Kaizer Chiefs: Yellow Cards, 9. Serge Djiehoua 71 min


Golden Arrows: Yellow Cards, 1. Davies Phiri 82 min

Officials:


Referee: Daniel Bennett


Assistant 1: Andrew Rezeers


Assistant 2: Solly Molamudi


4th Official: Johnny Du Toit


Match Commissioner: Ian McLeod