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Chiefs edge out Pirates
10/05/2008 17:41 - (SA)
Mmabatho - A solitary goal was enough to see Kaizer Chiefs emerge victorious over Orlando Pirates in the Soweto derby at the Mafikeng Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
It was a tight game played at a fast pace throughout the 90 minutes which provided the near capacity crowd with a great afternoon's entertainment and saw both side's enjoying numerous chances to win the game.
Pirates coach Owen Da Gama would have been happy with the start his team made to the game as they enjoyed the majority of ball possession and barely allowed Chiefs out of their own half.
During this period the Amakhosi players seemed somewhat overwhelmed and several uncharacteristic individual errors were made.
While it was all Bucs early on, it took 14 minutes for them to create a clear-cut opportunity, which materialised when Excellent Walaza fed the ball to Teko Modise.
The Bafana Bafana playmaker took the ball in his stride and volleyed goal-wards from 12-yards out, only to see his effort skim off the crossbar and out of play.
Virtual spectator
It took Chiefs all of 26 minutes to show any sign of threatening inside the Pirates box, but a flowing move came to nothing as both David Mathebula and Arthur Zwane failed to take the responsibility of shooting at goal.
Buccaneers goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa was a virtual spectator for the first half an hour, but when called upon in the 31st minute he did brilliantly to block Shaun Bartlett's header and then reacted quickly to stop Arthur Zwane from scoring from the rebound.
But following their sluggish start, Chiefs were starting to find their rhythm and after Paulus Masehe glanced a header over the bar for Pirates in the 35th minute, Amakhosi took a 37th minute lead through David Mathebula, who slid the ball into the back of the net after Bartlett had beaten Destin Makita down the right flank.
Two minutes later Chiefs should have doubled their lead when Mathebula, providing a similar cross to the one that lead to his own goal, picked out Siphiwe Tshabalala, who side-footed wide of goal from just 10-yards out.
Sea Robbers
It took just two second half minutes for Amakhosi to carve out a potential goal opportunity - the chance arrived when Zwane sprinted clear down the right and squared the ball to Mathebula, who cleverly flicked the ball goal-wards, but saw his effort cleared off the line by an alert Makita.
Lebohang Mokoena took matters into his own hands in the 53rd minute as he looked to make things happen for the Sea Robbers, but having beaten Onismor Bhasera, his shot from a tight angle was well saved by Itumeleng Khune.
The introduction of Tlou Segolela by da Gama had a positive effect for Pirates as the youngster delivered several telling balls, but the Chiefs defence just did enough to avert the danger.
Bucs then had a penalty appeal turned down with 15 minutes to go when Mokoena's fiercely struck shot appeared to striker Fabian McCarthy on his upper arm.
But their quest for an equaliser suffered a set back five minutes from time when Mlungisi Gumbi was sent off after picking up a second yellow card.
Pirates were able to get the ball in the back of the net in injury time through Excellent Walaza, but the goal was ruled out for an infringement on Khune and Chiefs were able to preserve their lead during a tense final couple of minutes.
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Rugby
