A goal by Sthembiso Ngcobo three minutes into injury time gave Kaizer Chiefs a 2-1 victory against Eleven Arrows on Saturday evening. Josta Dladla had given Chiefs an early lead in the first half, but Romanus Shilongo equalised shortly after the break.
The match seemed to be heading for a penalty shootout when Chiefs won a corner and Kaizer Motaung junior chipped the ball to the far post where Ngcobo rose unopposed to head the ball into the net.
Chiefs were worthy winners as they had more possession and created more chances, but Arrows also gave a great performance and matched their illustrious opponents till the end.
A crowd of about 5 000 fans turned up to watch the popular Amakhosi, with many sporting Kaizer Chiefs jerseys, while blaring vuvuzelas added a carnival atmosphere to the occasion.
Chiefs were the first to attack with Abia Nale forcing an early corner, while Knowledge Musona and Mandla Masango came close with long range efforts.
Chiefs were doing most of the early attacking and took the lead on 20m when Dladla volleyed in a cross into the box by Nale.
Yende Mthokozisi came close with a stinging freekick that Arrows keeper Virgil Vries just managed to punch away, while a long range effort by Reneilwe Letsholonyane was well saved by Vries.
Chiefs brought on a completely different team of 11 players after the break, although their star winger Siphiwe Tshabalala remained on the bench for the whole match.
Amos Ncanana nearly scored when his header bounced off the crossbar on 51m, but Arrows immediately counterattacked and striker Muna Katupose missed a great chance when he blasted a cross by Romanus Shilongo over the net.
Arrows however soon equalised when the hard running Shilongo beat the offside trap on 55m and rounded Chiefs’ reserve keeper Arthur Bartman to stab the ball into an empty net.
More chances came Arrows’ way as their new signing, Namibian international winger Paulus Shipanga and Driekies Viringa provided pin point crosses into the box, but Muna Katupose’s finishing was wasteful.
With the match moving into injury time, a long range effort by Amos Ncanana hit the crossbar, before Chiefs finally broke through when Ngcobo headed in the winner three minutes into injury time.
Paulus Shipanga immediately attacked from the kickoff down the right wing and sent in an inviting cross but Tara Katupose blasted the ball over the bar and Chiefs held on to win the match 2-1.