Kaizer Chiefs made a disappointing return to Betway Premiership action following the FIFA international interruption, going down 2-1 to Lamontville Golden Arrows at the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban on Saturday.

Skipper, Yusuf Maart, who had earlier missed a penalty, equalised four minutes after Nduduzo Sibaya had given Abafana Bes’thende a 25th minute lead, as the teams went into halftime level at 1-1. Knox Mutizwa settled the matter with the winning goal twelve minutes from full-time.

The game got off to a tentative start as both teams eased their way back into action following the break, but it was Chiefs who were first to threaten in the 5th minute when Dillan Solomons whipped in a dangerous ball from the right that Nkosingiphile Ngcobo couldn’t quite steer on target.

The visitors earned a golden opportunity to take the lead from the penalty spot after Glody Lilepo was brought down by Thokozani Lukhele in the 10th minute but Maart’s firmly struck spot-kick rebounded back off the upright and the chance went abegging. It proved costly 15 minutes later, as Arrows struck on the counter-attack. Mutizwa outmuscled Inacio Miguel near halfway and drew Given Msimang before slipping the ball to Sibiya to beat Bruce Bvuma from close range.

The goal seemed to jolt Amakhosi into action and they drew level four minutes later, with Maart turning from villain to hero after playing a superb one-two with Gaston Sirino that opened the Arrows defence and calmly sliding the ball past Edward Maova.

Chiefs kept up the pressure for the remainder of the half and might have gone into the break ahead if their finishing had been a tad more precise. Both Solomons and Lilepo could not produce the results that their fine build-up play deserved and they had to be satisfied with parity at the halfway stage.

Amakhosi were given a huge scare in the 51st minute when Angelo Van Rooi broke clean through on goal, only to shoot wide when faced with Bvuma, as Arrows gained the initiative in the early stages of the second period.

However, with the introduction of Mduduzi Shabalala and Wandile Duba midway through the half, the tide began to turn back in Chiefs’ favour. In the 68th minute, Maova had to dive desperately at the feet of Sirno at the end of a clever move that almost bore fruit and, two minutes later, Miguel’s long range shot was fumbled by the ‘keeper as it bounced wickedly in front of him.

Amakhosi, though, were caught out on the break for the second time in the 78th minute. On this occasion, Siyanda Mthanti got the better of Edmilson Dove and fired in a sharp cross that Bvuma could only parry. Mutizwa, following up, reacted quickest to bury the ball into the net to put the home side 2-1 ahead.