Flavio Da Silva came off the bench and netted the winner on debut for Kaizer Chiefs, who defeated Golden Arrows 1-0 on Saturday evening.
Betway Premiership
Result: Golden Arrows 0-1 Kaizer Chiefs
Date: 30 August 2025
Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium
Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi made just a couple changes from the draw with Mamelodi Sundowns as Thabo Cele made way for Siphesihle Ndlovu in midfield while Ashley du Preez was recalled to lead the attack, as the hosts looked to continue their impressive start to the campaign.
The visitors made a lively start to the encounter as Du Preez nearly made the perfect impact after 11 minutes but his powerful strike was saved by Arrows goalkeeper Zakahle Ngcobo.
It was one-way traffic in the first period as Chiefs enjoyed a lot of the possession in the opposition half, but the Arrows defence remained resolute in the 18-yard area, restricting the visitors to efforts from distance.
Arrows, meanwhile, nearly took the lead against the run of play as Ngcobo's goal-kick sent Sabelo Sithole through on goal, however the strike was denied by a fine save from Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen.
After a lively start to the second half, Chiefs nearly fell behind on 53 minutes when an un-marked Sede Dion got on the end of Sithole's cross before seeing his volley crash against the upright.
Coach Nabi responded with a triple change on the hour mark as new signing Flávio da Silva came on for his debut along with Mfundo Vilakazi and Gaston Sirino, with Du Preez, Pule Mmodi and Mduduzi Shabalala dropping to the bench.
All three changes paid off as Chiefs took the lead on 68 minutes as Vilakazi and Sirino combined to good effect, with the latter teeing up Da Silva who sent a first-time finish into the back of the net to mark his debut with a goal.
Sirino nearly got his name on the score-sheet with three minutes left on the clock as he carved out some space in the box skipping past one challenge before unleashing a powerful strike that sailed wide of the upright.
The miss did not come back to haunt Chiefs, who held out for the win and moved up to second spot.
Here's how they lined up:
Golden Arrows: 31. Ngcobo, 4. Jiyane, 33. Phillips, 5. Shitolo, 38. Mabaso, 24. Dlamini, 15. Komara, 18. Dion, 29. Sithole, 25. Maxwele, 8. Ndlovu,
Subs: 34. Maova, 35. Mantshiyane, 30. S.Cele, 45. Radebe, 39. Booysen, 36. P.Khumalo, 11. Sibiya, 41. Zwane, 23. L.Dube
Kaizer Chiefs: 1. Petersen, 29. Mako, 4. Kwinika, 84. Miguel, 2. Monyane, 8. Ndlovu, 5. Mthethwa, 7. Shabalala, 13, Mmodi, 99. Lilepo, 9. Du Preez
Subs: 71. Ntwari, 48. Cross, 39. Frosler, 77. Da Silva, 22. Matlou, 12. Ngcobo, 28. Vilakazi, 10. Sirino, 31. Hlongwane
