Live Play-by-Play: Arrows v Chiefs

February 9, 2010

It’s a goalless stalemate. Arrows certainly had the chances to win the game early in the second half and how they will rue not converting them.

For Chiefs it’s a third successive draw and their title hopes are certainly gone now.

90+3’ – FULL TIME. Golden Arrows 0 Kaizer Chiefs 0.

90+1’ – There will be two minutes of added time.

90’ – Free kick to Arrows about 35 metres from goal. They work it short rather than look to put a cross into the box and eventually lose possession.

89’ – Dladla works space for a shot but his effort is blocked by Khuboni.

88’ – It’s looking like a 0-0 stalemate, which would be Chiefs’ third draw in as many games in 2010.

For Arrows the result would at least break their losing streak…

87’ – A cross from the left for Arrows, Zothwane with a free header! Saved by Bartman! The midfielder got no power on his effort!

86’ – Now Arrows hit Chiefs on the break and Henyekane beats one man with his pace before shooting from range… wide of goal!

85’ – Lebese with another clever cross to the back post but it’s put behind for a corner to Chiefs. Amakhosi work the set piece short before crossing but it’s headed clear.

84’ – Arrows substitution: Musonda comes on for Manqana.

83’ – Khuzwayo with a wobbly clearance from a free kick but it runs safely out for a throw-in.

82’ – Chiefs substitution: Nhleko makes way for Torrealba.

81’ – Nale with a low cross but it’s cut out by Mvalo. Arrows’ central defenders have been excellent this evening.

80’ – Chiefs’ final substitution will see Torrealba come on. He’s readying himself on the sidelines…

79’ – A ball stabbed through for Gabuza but Bartman has it covered.

78’ – Nale looks to twist and turn on the edge of the Arrows box but he’s crowded out and the home side come away with the ball…

77’ – Chiefs substitution: Dladla replaces Yende.

76’ – A cross from right for Henyekane! He misses his header! What a great chance for Arrows!

75’ – Nale with an opportunity on the right of the penalty area! Great defending from Sangweni as he reads the play and bails out Tom!

73’ – Mabuya pulls up a huge divot in the pitch as he tries to keep a ball in play.

72’ – Chiefs substitution: Masango makes way for Nale.

71’ – Chiefs are readying former Arrows player Nale to come on as a sub.

70’ – Lebese with a good floated ball into the box but it’s just out of Masango’s reach.

69’ – Nhleko looks for a pass to send Lebese free down the left of the penalty area but Zwane clears.

68’ – The corner comes into the box for Chiefs but it’s headed over by Nahayo.

Arrows substitution: Mabuya replaces Bengu.

67’ – Masango stabs a shot on goal! Turned over the bar by Khuzwayo! Corner kick to Chiefs…

66’ – Free kick to Chiefs in a good attacking position about 25 metres from goal. Musona puts his right foot through it but it’s a horrible attempt; well wide of goal!

65’ – Zothwane looks for a through ball but it’s straight into the hands of Bartman, who has been excellent tonight.

64’ – Mvalo makes an acrobatic clearance under pressure from Nhleko.

62’ – No surprise to see poor Mshengu coming off; he had totally lost his nerve after those missed chances.

61’ – Arrows substitution: Gabuza is on for Mshengu.

60’ – Arrows’ pace up front really looks troubling for the Chiefs defence. Nahayo is just returning from a long absence remember…

59’ – Masango with a cross into the box from the right and Khuboni clears at the second attempt.

58’ – Tom with a low cross into the box, Zwane with a shot on target! But it’s straight at Bartman!

57’ – How Arrows must wish those chances had fallen to Henyekane rather than Mshengu, who looks so short of confidence in the final third…

56’ – Henyekane puts Mshengu through again! And again the Arrows no.7 fluffs it! Playing neither a cross nor a shot that runs harmlessly out for a goal kick!

55’ – Chiefs look to attack down the left through Jambo but Sangweni tidies up.

54’ – Great cross from Tom on the left but it’s just too high for Bengu in the middle! More good play from Abafana Bes’thende!

53’ – Jambo with a crude foul on Bengu and he’s lucky not to be cautioned.

52’ – That’s twice that Chiefs have been caught square at the back at the start of the second half. Much better from Arrows, they just need to find a finish now…

51’ – Again Mshengu races through on goal but this time Bartman deserves credit for sprinting off his line and making a tackle on the edge of his box!

50’ – What a miss from the Arrows midfielder! That really should have been 1-0 to the home team…

49’ – Mshengu is clean through on goal and the flag stays down! He shoots early but it’s a woeful effort that trickles wide of the posts!

48’ – Yende with a sight of goal and he strikes it with the left… wide of goal! A decent effort from the midfielder, though.

47’ – Henyekane tries to run onto a loose ball after a slip at the back from Sweswe but the Chiefs defender recovers.

46’ – Back underway in the second half. Neither side has made any substitutions at the break.

45+2’ – HALF TIME. Golden Arrows 0 Kaizer Chiefs 0.

Amakhosi have come closest to breaking the deadlock with Musona’s shot that hit the post.

Arrows will need to lift their game in the second half of they hope to pick up the three points.

45+1’ – There will be one minute of added time.

45’ – Masango with a shot-cum-cross that goes over the bar. Goal kick to Arrows.

44’ – Nice passing from Chiefs near the end of the half here. The Amakhosi have their tails up after that near miss…

43’ – What a cracking effort from Musona! He caught that beautifully and Arrows were lucky the rebound off the woodwork didn’t fall for a Chiefs player.

42’ – Musona looks to dog out a cross from near the byline and earns a corner kick. Lebese finds Musona in the penalty area and he shoots… off the upright!

40’ – A worry for Arrows now – Henyekane is down with what looks like a shoulder or head injury. He’s taken off on a stretcher.

39’ – Tau with a great run inside from the right flank and now Nhleko curls a shot! Just wide of goal!

38’ – Now Bengu is flagged offside. The Arrows attackers are playing right on the shoulder of Chiefs’ defenders and looking to spring the offside trap…

37’ – A great chance for Arrows but Zothwane can’t control Bengu’s cutback and the ball falls kindly for Sweswe to hammer it clear.

36’ – Tom is pushing forward down the left impressively for Arrows, forcing Chiefs’ Masango and Tau onto the back foot.

35’ – Ten minutes to half time and it’s still goalless between Arrows and Chiefs in this league game.

34’ – Henyekane nicks the ball off Tau but Nahayo just about manages to make a good tackle, with the striker threatening to sprint in behind the defence.

33’ – Nhleko fouls Sangweni in the Arrows half. Those two are having a good battle…

32’ – Nhleko with a long range shot but it’s woefully off target. The shooting at goal hasn’t been of the highest standard so far…

31’ – Hand-ball against Jambo and Arrows have a free kick about 25 metes from goal. Manqana curls one at goal from the set piece but it’s an easy save for Bartman.

30’ – Henyekane tries a shot from a free kick about 30 metres from goal but the ball balloons high and wide. Poor effort from the striker.

29’ – Nengomasha with a cynical tackle and he’s lucky not to be booked for that.

28’ – Masango steals the ball in Arrows’ half and surges forward but Tom gets back to make a tackle and win possession for the home side.

27’ – That was the best chance of the night and Chiefs will feel that it should have been one of their strikers rather than a winger with the header.

26’ – Lebese with a good cross, Masango makes a run and meets the ball with his head! Wide of goal!

25’ – Musona looks to bring the ball back on his right foot on the edge of the box but Mvalo makes a good challenge.

24’ – Lebese works a low cross into the box but Sangweni gets it clear! Chiefs are on top at the moment but Arrows’ pace on the break is a major threat…

23’ – Now Arrows go forward on the counter with the pace of Henyekane but Tau comes across to offer cover for his central defenders!

22’ – Musona with a chance after a clearance falls kindly for him! Saved one-on-one by Khuzwayo and it’s a corner to Chiefs!

21’ – Henyekane delivers a corner kick and Bartman punches away, though not convincingly. Now Manqana shoots on target! Saved low by Bartman!

20’ – Tom looks to speed down the left for Arrows but Sweswe steps across to put the ball out for a throw-in.

19’ – Tau whips in a low cross but Nhleko’s attempted flick runs out for a goal kick. It should have been a corner to Chiefs…

18’ – Tau tries a long range shot but his grasscutter is easily cut out by Sangweni.

17’ – Chiefs work the set piece short but are unable to fashion a chance in the Arrows penalty area.

16’ – Nice football from Arrows but Nengomasha steps in with a good tackle on Khuboni. Chiefs break up field and Nhleko’s shot is deflected wide for the first corner of the game.

15’ – Musona with a snap shot from the edge of the area! Wide of goal! The best effort so far this evening…

14’ – Henyekane sprints off the shoulder of Nahayo to try and latch onto a loose ball but he’s flagged offside again.

13’ – Manqana and Henyekane get in each other’s way as the former looks to take a long range strike at goal.

12’ – Nengomasha’s pass is intercepted in midfield but the ball falls kindly for Yende, who spreads the play wide to the left…

11’ – Arrows look to hit Amakhosi on the counter but Henyekane is flagged offside. A close call for the striker…

10’ – Lebese swings in a fine cross from the left for Chiefs but Khuzwayo comes off his line to make a good interception.

9’ – Nhleko chests a ball down from a throw-in on Chiefs’ left and then swivels to shoot, but his effort is high and wide.

8’ – Khuboni hits a long ball for Arrows but Henyekane can’t chase down it down and Bartman picks it up in his box.

7’ – Arrows look to work the ball to Mshengu down the left channel but Nahayo sees the ball out for a goal kick to Chiefs.

5’ – Lebese looks to slip past Sangweni down Chiefs’ left but the Arrows defender stands firm and breaks up the visitors’ attacking move.

4’ – Good pressure from Mshengu on Nahayo but the Chiefs defender sends a long ball downfield.

3’ – Manqana stabs a ball forward but it’s straight through to Chiefs goalkeeper Bartman.

2’ – It’s been a good start from Arrows, who have had an early attack down the left flank and have seen most of the ball thus far.

1’ – Referee Jacon Frolick blows his whistle and we are underway in Durban! Arrows are in their traditional green and gold; Chiefs wear all black with gold trim.

Line-ups: Arrows: (4-4-2) Khuzwayo; Zwane, Sangweni, Mvalo, Tom; Bengu, Khuboni, Zothwane, Manqana; Mshengu, R. Henyekane

Chiefs: (4-4-2) Bartman; Tau, Nahayo, Sweswe, Jambo; Masango, Yende, Nengomasha, Lebese; Musona, Nhleko

Good evening and welcome to MTNfootball’s live Play-By-Play coverage of the Absa Premiership match between Golden Arrows and Kaizer Chiefs from the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

It’s an important game for Arrows, with the KwaZulu-Natal giants looking to arrest a slide down the table after suffering three successive defeats.

Abafana Bes’thende, after losing their last game of 2009 away to Bidvest Wits, have suffered consecutive defeats in KwaZulu-Natal derbies against AmaZulu and Maritzburg United.

Chiefs, after consecutive draws against Moroka Swallows and Jomo Cosmos, are out of the race for the title and will look to consolidate their third place on the log.

The Amakhosi could do a league double over Arrows for the third successive season if they claim victory this evening; they beat the Durban side 2-1 in Soweto earlier in the season.