Referee Bambiso Masixole stole the show in awarding a last-minute penalty in a Soweto derby marked by wasteful execution by both Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at an overflowing and sold-out FNB Stadium yesterday.
Patrick Maswanganyi made no mistake, sending Chiefs goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma the wrong way with a cheekily taken kick which the Bafana Bafana midfielder took with amazing coolness to give the Buccaneers a vital three points that puts them back in the Betway Premiership race where they now trail log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns by three points after 12 matches.
The spot kick was awarded after Chiefs right-back Njabulo Blom pulled Relebohile Mofokeng inside the area with less than a minute left in referee’s optional time.
Masixole showed nerves of steel in awarding a penalty others may have deemed a brave move in the face of what was at stake.
Until then, the match looked destined for a stalemate, which would have robbed Pirates coach Jose Riveiro of an amazing record of becoming the first Pirates mentor to beat Chiefs in four consecutive derbies in the PSL era.
Pirates had come to this match as favourites after beating Chiefs in two league matches and a Nedbank Cup semifinal last season.
The three points are vital for Pirates as they are facing another tough week that will start with an away fixture against Sekhukhune United on Wednesday, followed by another blockbuster against champions Sundowns, the team fighting to win the league title for a record-extending eighth successive time.
Dubbed as a “Youth Derby”, the match saw the two coaches including at least two of their young players each in the starting line-ups, with perhaps the biggest casualty being Chiefs striker Wandile Duba, 20, who missed out after an injury in Amakhosi's 4-0 victory in the Nedbank Cup against ABC Motsepe League outfit Free Agents last week.
Interestingly, Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi wasted no time bringing in two of three new signings, the DR Congo winger Glody Lilepo and midfielder Thabo Cele among the substitutes. The two players were introduced in the second half, with Lilepo showing some good glimpses in attack, while Cele, a former SA Under-20 international, looked like the player Chiefs have been missing in the middle of the park.
Lilepo, signed from second division French side Valenciennes, is expected to take the opportunity that couldn’t be seized by Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana (of Burundi), Jasond Gonzalez (Colombia) and Christian Saile (DR Congo), who are among the strikers signed by Chiefs in recent years.
With a couple of players injured, Nabi had no options, especially up-front, where Chiefs were also missing Ashley du Preez through injury. Duba’s absence presented Ranga Chivaviro with a rare opportunity to start in attack alongside Mduduzi Shabalala.
Ranga was one of the players who had enough chances to score before Maswanganyi’s penalty gave Pirates victory.
The first 45 minutes were characterised by mistakes on both sides, with neither side really getting hold of the ball. Chiefs’ winger Pule Mmodi was the first culprit, missing an easy opening inside the first three minutes.
He found himself one-on-one with keeper Sipho Chaine after Thabo Sisane carelessly lost possession just outside the area. Instead of picking a spot, Mmodi tried to round off Chaine, but the Pirates goalkeeper stretched his hands and got hold of the ball.
But the biggest miss of the half was that of Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa, who couldn’t add to his four league goals, when he too found himself facing only Bvuma, but shot wide with a few minutes remaining before the break.
Mabasa had two other good chances to put Pirates ahead in the second half, but his efforts were all saved by Bvuma when he didn’t put them wide.
That Mabasa lasted long on the pitch was due to the generosity of Riviero who only substituted him with Evidence Makgopa with 15 minutes remaining.
The loss is another big setback for Chiefs who remain in sixth spot with 21 points, having already suffered six defeats in 15 matches.
Chiefs kick off the second round of their league matches with a home tie against AmaZulu on Tuesday before visiting Stellenbosch FC in Cape Town on Friday.
Orlando Pirates (0) 1
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0
Scorers: Pirates – Patrick Maswanganyi (90+3m)
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.