Orlando Pirates defeated Soweto derby rivals Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 at the FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon to reclaim top spot on the Betway Premiership log.
The Buccaneers triumphed thanks to goals from Yanela Mbuthuma and Tshepang Moremi (both assisted by Thapelo Mokobodi) either side of an equaliser from the Amakhosi’s Pule Mmodi.
The win is Pirates’ seventh in a row in the league and pushed them two points clear of Mamelodi Sundowns at the top of the log – though the Brazilians could reclaim pole position with a win later on Saturday evening.
As for Chiefs, this result marked a fourth successive winless match in the league – leaving them 11 points off the pace of Pirates after just nine rounds of the season.
After a tame opening period, Chiefs created the first clear chance of the match in the 13th minute, with Mduduzi Shabalala playing a brilliant pass through the lines to put Wandile Duba in on goal, but the striker was denied by a brave save from Pirates keeper Sipho Chaine.
In the 24th minute, Pirates claimed the lead with their first notable attack of the game. Yanela Mbuthuma ran onto a ball over the top of the defence from Thapelo Mokobodi before firing off a low shot from the right of the penalty area – his effort took a wicked deflection off Thabo Moloisane and looped beyond goalkeeper Brandon Petersen to find the back of the net.
CHIEFS RESTORE PARITY
Chiefs struck back on the half-hour mark, with Pule Mmodi squeezing home a shot after Chaine had inexplicably fumbled a tame, low cross from the right flank by Mfundo Vilakazi – a nightmare error from the otherwise reliable goalkeeper.
The Amakhosi were emboldened by their equaliser and pushed hard to claim the lead before the break, coming achingly close in the 43rd minute when Vilakazi’s deflected shot kissed the top of the crossbar, but the first half closed with the teams locked at 1-1.
Chiefs looked to keep up their momentum in the second half, but they were sucker-punched by a fine Pirates goal in the 55th minute. Mokobodi was put through on goal to face Petersen, but unselfishly squared for Tshepang Moremi to have a tap-in for a 2-1 lead.
The Buccaneers almost added to their advantage in the 83rd minute when Moremi powered down the left flank and attempted a delicate chip from a tight angle, but his effort clipped the frame of the goal and bounced away to safety.
Shortly thereafter, substitute Oswin Appollis rounded Petersen and tucked into an empty net, but the offside flag was up. However, television replays suggested the winger was not in an offside position, and his goal should have stood
Moremi soon shot wide from another great opportunity, and Evidence Makgopa then blazed over the crossbar, as Pirates continued to fall short in their efforts to kill off the game. Yet Chiefs’ hopes of a comeback were crippled in injury time when defender Inacio Miguel picked up a second yellow card and was dismissed – helping Bucs see out the game with a greater sense of comfort and control.
The teams are scheduled to return to Betway Premiership action in late November, with Pirates at home to Golden Arrows, and Chiefs away to Chippa United.
Orlando Pirates (1) 2 (Mbuthuma 24’, Moremi 55’)
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Mmodi 30’)
Pirates: Chaine, Sibisi, Seema, Ndaba (Lungu 46’), Hotto, Selepe (Mthiyane 60’), Mbatha (Padime 60’), Mokobodi, Moremi, Masilela (Appollis 75’), Mbuthuma (Makgopa 75’)
Chiefs: Petersen, Frosler (Kwinika 69’), Moloisane, Miguel, Mako, Maboe (Chislett 82’), Mthethwa, Mmodi (Da Silva 82’), Shabalala, Vilakazi (Abrahams 76’), Duba