Orlando Pirates (1) 2
(Mbuthuma 23’, Moremi 55’)

Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1
(Mmodi 30’)

Betway Premiership, Round 9 (31.10.16)
FNB stadium, Nasrec

Amakhosi suffered their first defeat of the Betway Premiership season when they went down 2-1 to Orlando Pirates at FNB stadium on Saturday, in a match they will feel they did enough to win.

Pirates scored twice from extremely close non-offside calls, once in each half, first from Yanel Mbuthuma midway through the first half and through Tshepang Moremi, 10 minutes into the second half. Pule Mmodi had drawn Amakhosi level in the 30^th minute.

The opening exchanges demonstrated the ferocity that has come to be expected from this fixture and the midfield tussle was intense as both teams tried to make an early statement and neither goalkeeper was tested in the opening 10 minutes, but after the match settled a bit Amakhosi emerged as the more dominant and created a lot of concern within the Buccaneers’ ranks.

Wandile Duba, fresh from scoring a hattrick in midweek, ought to have opened the scoring in the 13^th minute in almost a carbon copy of his third against TS Galaxy in midweek, following a brilliant turn on halfway and defence-splitting through ball from Mduduzi Shabalala that put Duba in on goal behind the defence but he shot straight at Sipho Chaine, who blocked the shot at close range.

Three minutes later, a good interchange between Sibongiseni Mthethwa and Duba saw the former set Mfundo Vilakazi free on the right and his cross was almost steered in at the near post by Mmodi.

Chiefs’ high defensive line was given a warning in the 23^rd minute when a ball over the top put Mbuthuma, who looked suspiciously offside, clear on goal, but Inacio Miguel recovered tremendously to put him off before he could shoot. The warning was not heeded, however, and a minute later another ball over the top found the same player whose shot across goal deflected off Thabo Moloisane and into the far corner.

Chiefs refused to let the setback break their rhythm and deservedly drew level on the half-hour mark when Vilakazi’s under-hit cross from the right was inexplicably spilled by Chaine and Mmodi was rewarded for following up a seemingly lost cause when the ball fell at his feet for him to finish with ease.

Amakhosi looked the more likely to take the lead after that. Vilakazi was brought down on a run at the heart of the Pirates defence in the 41^st minute and from the corner that resulted from the ensuing free kick, he fired in a shot that grazed the crossbar.

Moments later, Mmodi was brought down in a similar fashion just outside the box, and Duba headed narrowly wide. Despite being the home side, Pirates appeared relieved to hear the half-time whistle and able go into the break level at 1-1.

Amakhosi began the second half brightly but fell behind a second time to a breach of their high defensive line in the 55^th minute as Thapelo Mokobodi was sent clear in on goal in another extremely tight call and squared the ball for Moremi to tap into an empty net.

It was a cruel blow to Chiefs and as they tried bravely to draw level, Pirates sat back in defence of their advantage and on numerous occasions, Chiefs were thwarted on the edge of the Buccaneers’ box with desperate last-ditch interceptions and tackles.

Late on, Amahosi did receive a couple of let-offs when substitute Oswin Appollis had the ball in the Chiefs net only to be denied by the offside flag when replays suggested he was onside, and then Moremi missed when he looked set to score.

Miguels was dismissed for a second yellow card in stoppage time and with him went Amakhosi’s last hope of salvaging something.

The result leaves Chiefs in fifth place in the league table on 14 points from nine rounds. Their midweek match against AmaZulu has been postponed due to the local elections, but they will be in action next weekend when they face Siwelele in the Carling Knockout Cup.

Line-ups

Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen © (1), Mako (29), Miguel (84), Moloisane (42), Frosler (39) (Kwinika (4) 69’), Mthethwa (5), Maboe (6) (Chislett (23) 82’), Shabalala (7), Mmodi (13) (Da Silva (77) 82’), Vilakazi (28) (Abrahams (35) 76’), Duba (36)

Subs not used: Bvuma (44); Dortley (24), Nkgwesa (38), Mabaso (34), Velebayi (17)

Coach: Fernando Da Cruz

Orlando Pirates: Chaine (24); Sibisi © (5), Seema (6), Ndaba (3) (Lungu (23) 46’), Hotto (7), Mokobodi (33), Mbatha (16) (Phadime (38) 59’), Selepe (20) (Mthiyane (29) 59’), Masilela (48) (Appollis (12) 75’), Mbuthuma (9) (Makgopa (17) 75’), Moremi (11)

Subs not used: Dladla (32); Kgositsile (49), Zulu (37), Nkota (21)

Coach: Ouaddou Abdeslam