Another draw for Soweto Derby, but a thrilling one
JOBURG – Orlando Pirates and Kaiser Chiefs draw again in the Soweto Derby.
Had Orlando Pirates used all their scoring opportunities in the early stages of the Absa Premiership Soweto Derby, the
Mighty Buccaneers could have easily walked away with the three points and the bragging rights.
Instead, the match played at the FNB Stadium ended in a 1-1 draw.
The Buccaneers started the game like a house on fire and raided the Kaizer Chiefs goalmouth time and time again in search of an early
goal. Despite Pirates being the better of the two in the early stages of the thrilling match, it was Amakhosi who scored first through the boot of Joseph Malongoane in the 16th minute.
The never say die Bucs continued to press but their Togolese loan striker from SuperSport United, Dove Wome was the chief culprit of missed opportunities which he could have easily buried. But their hard work rate was finally rewarded 12 minutes before the halftime break when Thembinkosi Lorch scored the equaliser.
The second half was a seesaw affair with play swinging from goalmouth to goalmouth.
And it was Chiefs who got the press room excited when Amakhosi were awarded a penalty after a Pirates player was judged to have handled the ball inside the box, and Chiefs’ Zimbabwean defender, Willard Katsande stepped up to take the penalty.
Instead of giving Amakhosi the winning goal, Katsande turned Pirates keeper Brighton Mhlongo into a superhero as he saved the Bucs’ blushes by saving the spot kick which had goal written all over it.
For the remainder of the game it became clear in the press gallery that it was going to end in the dreaded stalemate that newly appointed Pirates coach, Swede, Kjell Jonevret had brushed aside at the pre-match press conference.
“I don’t know anything about the draws, all I am going to do on Saturday is to win the match and that’s all,” he had said.
One journalist remarked after the game: “But it was a thriller of a stalemate.”
Read: Form book is no guarantee to win derby
What do you think of the draw again in the Soweto Derby on Saturday? WhatsApp us with your views on 079 439 5345.
Disclaimer: Please be advised that the match officials credited Orlando Pirate’s only goal in the Absa Premiership fixture against Kaizer Chiefs (Saturday, 04 March 2017) to Kaizer Chiefs defender Tsepo Masilela (as an own goal – 33rd minute). PSL Media Relations
