Battling Kaizer Chiefs lose first match under caretaker Johnson

JOHANNESBURG - Caretaker coach Cavin Johnson lost his first match in charge of struggling Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday as a Knox Mutizwa brace gave Golden Arrows a 2-1 South African Premiership victory.

Zimbabwean Mutizwa opened the scoring after 19 minutes only for Sifiso Hlanti to equalise four minutes later at Arrows' stadium in Hammarsdale.

Mutizwa netted again on 53 minutes in cold, wet conditions to lift Arrows to second, four points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who are seeking a seventh straight league title.

Chiefs slipped one place to ninth, 13 points adrift of Sundowns after playing two matches more. It was their fifth loss in 10 Premiership outings.

Winners of a record 53 domestic trophies since being formed in 1970, and the most popular South African club, Chiefs have not lifted any silverware since topping the 2015 Premiership table.

The Johannesburg outfit fired Molefi Ntseki on Monday just four months after putting him in charge and turned to Johnson, 64, who had been running the club academy.

After being head coach of four Premiership teams, he assisted fellow South African Pitso Mosimane at Egyptian and African giants Al Ahly for one season before joining Chiefs.

Johnson was surprisingly upbeat despite a lacklustre performance, saying "all clubs go through bad patches and that is the case with Chiefs".

"Some of the players became tense as they neared Arrows' goalmouth. We need to be calmer and improve our ball retention and passing," he added.