Do Chiefs have the upper hand going into Soweto Derby?

Kaizer Chiefs have not beaten Orlando Pirates during ordinary time in their last 13 meetings, but perhaps have their best chance in years against a limping Buccaneers side that will be without inspirational captain Happy Jele.

Catch the action live on SS4 and live streaming on DStv Now from 2pm CAT (SA, GMT+2) on Saturday.

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Chiefs’ barren run against their Soweto rivals is the longest for either side in almost 50 years of South Africa’s biggest contest.

In that time they have claimed two victories on post-match penalties, which according to Fifa remain recorded as draws, including just this past weekend when their Telkom Knockout quarterfinal finished 2-2 in Durban and the AmaKhosi won 4-2 on spot-kicks.

Both teams have played since, with a second-string Chiefs claiming a 2-0 victory at Chippa United, while Pirates were disappointingly held 0-0 at home by Maritzburg United to ensure they go into this derby with only three league wins from their 10 matches to date.

Chiefs’ last win over Pirates came in December 2014 during their title-winning season, which was also the last time they picked up a trophy.

The Buccaneers also don’t have any silverware to show during that time, but have consistently looked the better side against Chiefs, until this season when the AmaKhosi have turned the tables.

But coach Ernst Middendorp will want something to show for that form and he will know that a Derby win will endear him further to the club’s faithful.

While there are bragging rights on offer, for Middendorp at least, though he may deny it, more important will be the three points that could potentially see his side open up a 10-point lead at the top of the Absa Premiership table.

“I’m not really interested in that, we haven’t even reached half of the season yet and there is a long, long way to go,” Middendorp said following the Chippa win, before taking a dig at his opposite number Rhulani Mokoena, who had said he felt like “Picasso admiring the Mona Lisa”‚ in praise of his team’s football in the 2-2 draw in Durban.

“We don’t look at us – I don’t talk about how tactically superior somebody is and how somebody is painting some pictures or painting out of the renaissance, or talking about a Spanish painter or Italian artist,” he said dismissively,

“I look into the game and figure out what’s good for us to make the points. Now is a crucial moment for us to find the right combination for the weekend’s game. At this moment I don’t use mathematics too much,” he said.

Middendorp rested a number of first team players for the Chippa win, ensuring they should be fresh for the weekend, but Pirates will have to do without skipper Jele.

He was sent-off in the draw with Maritzburg after two yellow cards, a major blow for the side from a defensive, and leadership, point of view.

“Hopefully the one that gets the opportunity‚ takes the opportunity and stakes a claim for a berth in the starting line-up,” Mokoena said.

The better news for Mokoena will be the return from suspension of Thembinkosi Lorch, who has an incredible record in recent Derby matches.

He has netted five in his last seven Derby appearances and has been very much the dangerman from both sides in this fixture.

Lorch was, perhaps, fortunate not to get sent-off in last weekend’s derby clash, but did serve a yellow card suspension in midweek so should be raring to go at the FNB Stadium.

Here are five key facts for each side going into Saturday’s encounter:

KAIZER CHIEFS

• Chiefs have lost just once in 12 matches in all competitions this season – a surprise 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Polokwane City in September. In the other 11 games they have eight wins and three draws.
• In Absa Premiership matches this year, Chiefs have scored an incredible 43.8% of their 16 goals in the last 15 minutes of matches. That is almost half and shows what strong finishers they are. Another 25% have come in the opening 15 minutes!
• But also in the league, only five of Chiefs’ 16 goals have come at home, the rest have all been scored on their travels.
• That being said, Chiefs have only failed to score in one of their 10 league games this season – the defeat to Polokwane City.
• Chiefs have kept six clean sheets in their 10 league games, with only five goals conceded.

ORLANDO PIRATES

• Pirates have used an astonishing 29 different players in their 10 Absa Premiership matches to date this season. No player has featured in every game.
• Pirates have played 15 games in all competitions and won four, to go with six draws and five defeats.
• Pirates are most dangerous in the league just after halftime, with 50% of their 12 league goals coming between 45-60 minutes. They have only scored two goals in the first half all campaign!
• In five away games in the league this season, Pirates have lost three. They also have a draw and a defeat.
• In Pirates’ unbeaten Soweto Derby run of 13 matches, there have been five wins and eight draws.