Chiefs lose MTN8 first leg semis
Chiefs lose MTN8 first leg semis

Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Nov 01, 2020.

31 October 2020 

Orlando Pirates (1) 3 (Lepasa 26’, Pule 67’, Lorch 81’)

Kaizer Chiefs      (0) 0

 

Kaizer Chiefs went down 3-0 to archrivals Orlando Pirates in the first leg of their MTN8 semi-final at Orlando Stadium. Chiefs had the early chances in the first half but were unable to capitalise on them and Pirates against the run of play took the lead in the 26th minute from Zakhele Lepasa who looked to be in an offside position when heading Pirates ahead. Further goals from Vincent Pule in the 67th minute and Thembinkosi Lorch in the 81st minute swung the tie in Pirates favour.

Both teams were slow out the blocks in the opening periods of the game as they were affected by the blistering heat in Soweto. It took 11 minutes for the first chance of the game when a ball over the top by Philani Zulu bounced beyond Ntsikelelo Nyauza and fell to Khama Billiat on the left flank. The Zimbabwean raced goal wards, where he was able to turn a back tracking Nyauza inside out. He then managed to evade a lunging Thulani Hlatshwayo and went closer to goal before knocking the ball beyond Richard Ofori but it hit crossbar and went out, as Pirates survived the early scare.

With chances proving few and far between Chiefs were being patient and it almost paid off in the 21st minute. Again, a move up the left by Chiefs saw Nkosingiphile Ngcobo sand the ball up the flank to Billiat who again evaded Nyauza. As he entered the Pirates 18-yard area, he was isolated and waited to back up to arrive. While holding the ball up from Hlatshwayo when the cavalry did arrive, he played the ball into the path of Leonard Castro who drove his effort from inside the Pirates 18-yard area wide of goal.

Shortly thereafter in the 25th minute, Akpeyi made a save at close range from Nyauza after he had connected with a free kick from a central position taken by Thebinkosi Lorch. The ball had initially got caught between his legs before he at the second attempt tried to stab it home where Akpeyi managed to get down to make the save.

Pirates took the lead a minute later. A curling cross from the left by Terrence Dzvukamanja found Lepasa unmarked inside the Chiefs 18-yard area. He made contact with ball and headed it past Akpeyi to give Pirates the lead. Replays did indicate that Lepasa could have been marginally offside when he attacked the ball, which was not picked up by assistant referee Khamusi Razwimisani.

With halftime approaching, Siyabonga Ngezana did well to time his run and meet a free kick from the right by Lebogang Manyama, but he could not guide his header and his effort went wide of goal. In referee’s optional time at the end of the half, Pule found himself in acres of space in the Chiefs 18 yard area on the left. Instead of going for goal, he tried to find Lepasa with a ball across goal, but he could not find him, and the ball rolled out of play.

Pirates went into the break with a 1-0 lead.

The first real chance in the second half was conjured up by Chiefs in the 62nd minute. A corner from the left by Billiat was met by Kearyn Baccus who managed to hack the ball back towards goal, where found Ngezana who managed to meet the ball with his head. Ofori stood his ground and was able to block the ball on the line and deny Chiefs an equaliser.

It was Pirates though who doubled their advantage in the 67th minute. Hlatshwayo found Lorch with a long ball down the left. He in turn managed to pick up Pule with a well weighted pass and managed to turn past two Chiefs defenders Njabulo Blom and Ngezana before shooting across goal past Akpeyi to put Pirates 2-0 up.

Pirates scored a third goal in the 81st minute. The hosts managed to break quickly from a Chiefs corner as Lebohang Lesako tried to control the ball but was unable to do so. As a result, Deon Hotto stole the ball and pushed forward picking out Lorch with a ball to his right. He in turn sped goal-wards before shooting the ball powerfully past Akpeyi to put Pirates in a strong position ahead of the second leg.

Chiefs suffering a 3-0 loss is their heaviest defeat to Orlando Pirates in almost 19 years, when they lost a league game 3-0 to them in December 2001. Amakhosi will now turn their attention to their next game which is a league clash against TS Galaxy at home on Wednesday evening.

 

Fact of the match:

Kaizer Chiefs four game unbeaten run against Orlando Pirates came to an end with this loss.

 

Number of the game 40:

Daniel Cardoso started and completed his 40th successive game in all competitions for Chiefs.

 

Teams:

Chiefs: Akpeyi; Mphahlele, Ngezana, Cardoso, Zulu; Manyama © (Parker 51’), Baccus (Lesako 79’), Blom, Ngcobo (Mashiane 52’); Billiat, Castro (Sifama 80’)

Subs not used: Khune, Mathoho , Katsande, Sasman, Ntshangase

Pirates:  Ofori; Hlatswayo (Jele 84’), Nyauza, Jooste, Maela; Motshwari (Zungu 88’), Monare (Ndlovu 70’), Pule, Lorch (Makaringe 84’); Dzvukamanja (Hotto 70’), Lepasa

Subs not used: Sandilands, Mntambo, Mako, Makgaka

 

What next:

Amakhosi are next in action on 4 November at 19:30 when they host TS Galaxy in a DStv Premiership game at FNB Stadium.

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