A determined display from Orlando Pirates handed them three Betway Premiership points plus a league double in the Soweto Derby as they defeated Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in their clash at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
It was a welcome victory for the Buccaneers, who bounced back from midweek disappointment to return to winning ways. They piled more misery on their hosts, who remain in the bottom half of the standings after back-to-back defeats.
Pirates returned to the historic venue looking to snap out of a winless streak that had just stretched to three matches in all competitions. They could not have been met by a worse start to the derby as they found themselves behind inside two minutes. Chiefs made the breakthrough following a misplaced pass inside the visitors’ half, which allowed Glody Lilepo in for a shot and the Congolese attacker made no mistake in firing past an outstretched Sipho Chaine.
In attempting to draw level, Pirates battled to get close to their rivals’ goal for much of the first quarter. There wasn’t plenty for the home crowd to get too excited about either in what was a bit of a cagey period after the opener.
A timely interception from Tapelo Xoki provided a much-needed spark for the visitors, who promptly turned defence into attack by quickly working the ball out on the right flank. Mohau Nkota was on hand to deliver a perfectly weighted pass towards Evidence Makgopa, whose well-timed run down the middle allowed him to slot home from close range and make it 1-1 in the 24th minute.
An opportunity to take the lead for the first time in the contest fell to the Buccaneers on the half-hour mark. This came via a header from a set piece from Xoki, whose effort was tipped over by Chiefs goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma.
They managed to create further chances to edge ahead as halftime approached with Thalente Mbatha blasting wide with a speculative shot from range, while Makgopa worked himself into space superbly with a clever touch from the flank before hooking his effort just wide.
An unfortunate deflection nearly handed the home side the advantage when Mbekezeli Mbokazi turned the ball towards his goal on the stroke of halftime. Chaine was however equal to the task as he pulled off an excellent save from point-blank range.
That sent the two sides into the tunnel still level, with the visitors emerging from the tunnel with a bit more purpose as they resumed their chase for a second goal. It almost came just five minutes after the restart, following a few deft touches on the flank from Mofokeng who laid one for replacement midfielder Kabelo Dlamini, whose curling effort crept inches over the crossbar.
What followed was another quiet period in terms of goalmouth action with the majority of the action occurring in the middle of the park.
The spark needed to excite the massive crowd that had turned out arrived in the 68th minute through a combination of quick thinking on the edge of the penalty area and cool heads inside it. This created a clear chance for Mofokeng in close range, and the 20-year-old obliged in bagging his fifth league goal of the season.
Nkota looked to extend the lead moments later when he made a fantastic run down the right flank, but was let down by his finish as he failed to guide the ball past a diving Bvuma. The momentum stayed on Pirates’ side with another chance presenting itself through what nearly ended up as an own goal as Hotto’s cutback was turned past the upright by Dillan Solomons.
The Buccaneers continued to dominate and their pressure told in injury time when Amakhosi were reduced to 10 men, with Bradley Cross handed his marching orders after picking up a second yellow for a clumsy challenge on Nkota. That was almost punished immediately by the visitors, but Dlamini could not find the target with yet another curler which drifted narrowly wide of the target.
A controlled finish from Pirates was required, and they delivered just that in the end as they clung on to their advantage. It provided a much-needed three points which strengthened their position near the summit of the table while also handing them a vital boost in confidence ahead of a second Soweto Derby in as many weeks.
Pirates XI: Chaine, Xoki, Mbokazi, Shandu (Ndlozi 64’), Mako (Dlamini 46’), Mbatha (Selepe 88’), Makhaula, Nkota, Mofokeng, Hotto, Makgopa (Radiopane 88’).
