Kaizer Chiefs 3-2 Orlando Pirates: Amakhosi claim Soweto Derby bragging rights in five-goal thriller

Kaizer Chiefs beat Orlando Pirates in the league for the first time since December 2014 as the game ended 3-2 in their favour. 

Ntsikelelo Nyauza scored an own goal before Leonardo Castro doubled the lead for Amakhosi in the second half. 

Vincent Pule pulled one back for Pirates with a stunning free-kick just before the break while Gabadinho Mhango restored parity with a magnificent top corner finish in the second half. 

However, Daniel Cardoso won it for the Glamour Boys as he converted from the spot after Bernard Parker was brought down inside the box with eight minutes to go. 

Ernst Middendorp brought back some of his regulars among them Daniel Akpeyi, Khama Billiat, Erick Mathoho and Reeve Frosler after they all missed the midweek game against Chippa United. 

Rhulani Mokwena, on the other hand, reshuffled his defence as Happy Jele and Mthokozisi Dube were both unavailable for selection due to suspension. 

Amakhosi had the best possible start to the encounter after Nyauza headed past his own goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands inside the opening 60 seconds of the game. 

Nyauza attempted to play the ball back to Sandilands but the veteran goalkeeper had already come off his goal-line to collect and the ball trickled into the back of an empty net. 

Chiefs began to dominate the game as Pirates struggled to keep up with their passing game. 

It wasn’t surprising to see Castro double Amakhosi’s leader with a clean header in the 28th minute after being left unmarked from a corner.

This was bound to happen as Nyauza and Innocent Maela struggled to deal with a few aerial balls at the start of the game, and they were always going to struggle to deal with the height of Castro, Nurkovic and Lebogang Manyama. 

Pirates, however, ended the first half stronger as they pushed Amakhosi back and even threatened to pull one back only for Akpeyi to make a good save. 

What was exciting outside the pitch was to see Shaun Bartlett and Mokwena calling the shots on the sidelines with Middendorp spending the better part of the half sitting down.   

Pirates needed something to encourage them to come back from two goals down, and Pule was the man to produce that moment of brilliance before the break as he fired past Akpeyi from an acute-angled free-kick, much to the delight of their fans out in the stands. 

At this stage, it was game on but there was little time left for Pirates to get a second just before the interval as Chiefs were happy to hold on and go into the break leading their rivals. 

Mokwena’s half-time really worked wonders as his charges came from the dressing rooms fired up and ready to take the game to Chiefs.

A much-improved Pirates team pinned Chiefs back and gave them a run around with Mhango the instigator on the left-hand side.          

Pirates twice came close to levelling matters midway through the second half as Lorch and Pule hit the woodwork with Akpeyi well beaten as the visitors continued to ask the right questions. 

The equalising goal finally came when Mhango cut inside before firing into the top corner to make it 2-2. 

Chiefs were no longer in the game, and they defended too deep in an effort to try and protect their lead, but Mhango’s goal was a wake-up call for them as they had to attack after conceding that goal. 

As the game approached its latter stages, substitute Bernard Parker won a penalty for Chiefs following a tackle by Paseka Mako inside the box. 

Cardoso then stepped up and coolly converted to make it 3-2 to Amakhosi. 

There was still time for drama deep into stoppage time as Erick Mathoho received his marching orders following a long physical tension between both sets of players. 

This means Mathoho will miss the Telkom Knockout Cup semi-final against Maritzburg United alongside Akpeyi who received his fourth yellow card for time-wasting late on. 

But for now, Chiefs will enjoy the moment going into the Fifa break as they are now sitting on 28 points after 11 league games while the struggle continues for the Buccaneers.