Kaizer Chiefs missed an opportunity to close the gap at the top of the table, as they lost 1-0 to Golden Arrows in their DStv Premiership fixture at the FNB Stadium on Saturday evening.
There was also a win on Saturday for Cape Town City, 1-0 over Marumo Gallants, while TS Galaxy and SuperSport United played to a 1-1 draw.
Kaizer Chiefs 0-1 Golden Arrows
Arrows took the lead in the fifth minute, when Knox Mutizwa scored a quality strike, chipping over Bruce Bvuma, who was off his line.
It could so easily have been 2-0 in the 25th minute, as Pule Mmodi broke free, but Bvuma was able to make a save to deny Arrows the goal.
After another close call for Arrows, there was a half chance at the other end, when a goalkeeper error from Nkosi Gumede almost allowed Khama Billiat in the 28th minute, but the Chiefs man was unable to get good contact onto Gumede’s wayward pass.
Keagan Dolly went close in the 32nd minute, but his attempt from a free-kick went narrowly over. Phathutshedzo Nange’s volley in the 39th minute looked goalbound, but Gumede pulled off a good save to deny him.
Bvuma had to be alert in the 41st minute to stop Sbonelo Cele’s attempt from a setpiece, while Ndudzo Sibiya shot over a minute later.
At half-time Arrows were good value for their 1-0 lead.
Dolly’s attempt in the 48th minute, took a deflection and went behind. Bernard Parker was on target in the 57th minute, but his long-range attempt was saved by Gumede. The Chiefs captain had another chance three minutes later, but his header went straight at Gumede.
Nqubeko Dlamini went just over in the 84th minute, as Arrows tried to seal the result with time running out. Samir Nurkovic went wide in the 89th minute as he tried an ambitious effort.
And Arrows were able to hold on for the win, a missed opportunity for Chiefs and Stuart Baxter, who suffers defeat as a coach to Arrows for the first time.
TS Galaxy 1-1 SuperSport United
TS Galaxy were held to a 1-1 draw by SuperSport United at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
It was the home team who would grab the lead, as Orebotse Mongae scored his first-ever professional goal, giving Galaxy the lead in the 13th minute. The former Baroka youngster joined Galaxy at the start of the year, after spending the first half of the season at GladAfrica Championship side Platinum City Rovers.
But SuperSport were awarded a penalty in the 23rd minute after Iqraam Rayners was brought down in the box by Mongae. Jamie Webber stepped up to take the spot-kick and levelled matters for the visitors.
The home team had a number of good chances, but Ronwen Williams was in good form in the SuperSport goal, making a number of key saves to keep it level. Galaxy also had two penalty calls turned down in the second half.
But despite Sead Ramovic’s team finishing stronger, they weren’t able to find a winner, and it was a share of the spoils.
Galaxy remain in the 15th spot, while SuperSport sit in seventh spot.
Cape Town City 1-0 Marumo Gallants
Cape Town City grabbed a late winner as they beat Marumo Gallants 1-0 at the Cape Town (DHL) Stadium on Saturday evening.
It was a competitive but goalless first half in the Mother City, as both teams threatened in the opening 45, but failed to trouble the goalkeepers, with just one shot on target.
While the second half produced more goal attempts, from City in particular, their radars remained off and they were predominantly off-target, though King Ndlovu pulled off two good late saves to deny Darwin Gonzalez and Taariq Fielies.
And just when it looked to be heading to a goalless draw, Thabo Nodada found the winner for City, as his shot from outside the area in the 89th minute beat Ndlovu to make it 1-0.
City move up to fifth, on 33 points, while tenth-placed Gallants suffer their first defeat of 2022.