Kaizer Chiefs lost a bit of ground on the Absa Premiership pacesetters as they crashed to a 2-1 Absa Premiership defeat away at Lamontville Golden Arrows at a rain-soaked Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu last night.
Limbikani Mzava put two penalty kicks past goalkeeper and captain Itumeleng Khune as Arrows stunned Amakhosi to leave Chiefs with just one win in their previous six matches.
Leonardo Castro reduced the deficit with less than half an hour remaining in the second half but, despite a late surge in pursuit of an equaliser, it was too little too late for the limping Soweto giants.
The defeat, their fourth of the season to go with six draws and four wins after 14 matches, left Amakhosi stagnant in sixth position on 18 points - five behind leaders and bitter rivals Orlando Pirates, who were to host Maritzburg United at Orlando Stadium in the late kickoff.
After thumping Tanzania's Zamamoto FC 4-0 in the preliminary stage first leg of the Caf Confederation Cup on Wednesday, Chiefs went into the match in high spirits but were shot down by the speedy Arrows.
Centrebacks Erick Mathoho and Teenage Hadebe gave away two penalties in five minutes as Arrows broke out down the middle and consistently managed to carve out spaces in the Chiefs central defence.
If there were any doubts about the first penalty decision after Lerato Lamola went down under what looked like a soft challenge from Mathoho after half an hour, there were certainly no problems about the second, awarded five minutes later as Hadebe hacked down Lennox Mutizwa inside the box. On both occasions, Malawian captain Mzava was too powerful for Khune as Arrows went into the break with a two-goal lead.
Arrows' winger Siboniso Conco, with only keeper Khune to beat, should have ended the match as a contest shortly after but the keeper's experience came to the fore as he made himself big to make a crucial save to deny the exciting youngster.
Chiefs came back from the break looking rejuvenated but it took them up to the 60th minute to find a goal.
Khama Billiat had two good chances to bring Chiefs level but was denied by Maximilian Mbaeva in the Arrows goal while Mathoho also blasted inches wide from close range...