Kaizer Chiefs belatedly broke their winless Premier League drought with a 2-1 victory over Golden Arrows at the Chatsworth Stadium on Sunday afternoon — but even Amakhosi coach Ernst Middendorp said he felt sorry for his opposite number, Khabo Zondo.
The sprightly Arrows dominated one of the most entertaining, action-packed games of the season for long periods and would not have been flattered by a three-goal lead at half-time after running the Chiefs defence ragged.
But dazzling build-ups were squandered by inept finishing, with Lady Luck smiling benevolently on Chiefs, and goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez also producing a sequence of breathtaking saves.
Then, further indicating that Chiefs would have run away with the honours had they participated in the popular Survivor series, referee Ace Ncobo inexplicably failed to award Arrows a penalty shortly before the end of the goalless opening period for a blatant double-infringement by Patrick Mayo on Nhlanhla Ngubane.
It was in the face of this make-believe scenario that Chiefs opened the score against the run of play in the 67th minute when Siyabonga Nkosi’s half-volleyed pile-driver cannoned into the roof of the net after he received the ball from a questionable free-kick.
And suddenly, the 10 000 crowd dominated by Chiefs supporters, who had epitomised the silence of the lambs for much of the game, suddenly burst forth in waves of jubilant cheering.
Although 77th minute substitute Mabuthi Khanyeza equalised five minutes later with a scrambled, close-range header, it seemed the gods were intent on contriving an injustice, with substitute Derrick Spencer snapping up an opportunist winning goal for Chiefs in the 86th minute to end Amakhosi’s dismal streak of four draws and a defeat.
Chiefs improved noticeably after the interval when Middendorp’s double-substitution in bringing on Spencer and David Radebe for David Obua and Louis Agyemang stabilised the defence and also added punch and purpose to the attack.
But it was easy to understand why even Middendorp sympathised with Zondo after one of the injustices of the season.
In other games played on Sunday, Benoni United thrashed Santos 4-0, Cosmos overcame Black Leopards 2-1 and Silver Stars came from behind to beat Maritzburg United 2-1. — Sapa