The Amakhosi compiled further misery on their rivals Orlando Pirates recent woes on Saturday afternoon with a hard fought, well earned 1-0 win in the Soweto derby played in Mmabatho.

Both Chiefs and Pirates stood, at kick off time, on the verge of not qualifying for the top eight. With this victory, thanks to a 36th minute strike by David Mathebula after Shaun Bartlett had fought off Destin Makita, Chiefs' move up into 6th place on the ABSA Premiership.

In a game that could really have gone either way, Pirates came inches away from taking the lead in the 13th minute when Teko Modise sent a volley crashing off the post. Destin Makita react quicker early in the second half and cleared a cheeky goal bound David Mathebula back heel off the line, with his keeper Destin Makita stranded.

Close shave

Like all matches of this magnitude, it took both teams time to find their rhythm and it was the visiting team, Orlando Pirates, who with their first major threat on goal almost found themselves ahead.

It could have been lucky for Pirates in the 13th minute after a good flowing move, made up of a number of quick passes involving about half a dozen Pirates players, the ball found its way to Excellent Walaza, stationed just inside the Chiefs danger area. He quickly controlled the ball and played it towards Teko Modise stationed just in front of him, Modise move towards the ball and connected with it on the volley the ball rose over Itumeleng Khune and crashed onto the cross bar. A big let off for Chiefs at an early stage in the match.

Chenene blaster

Pirates were on the ascendancy as the midway point of the first half arrived and Bennett Chenene hoped to have done better when turned the Chiefs defence and unleashed a shot along the ground. Khune needed to be at his best and he was at full stretch across his goal to stop Chenene’s effort.

Missed Clearance

A poor Lucas Thwala clearance just after the half hour mark ricocheted off Shaun Bartlett’s head and forced Pirates keeper Senzo Meyiwa into blocking the ball. Arthur Zwane then raced onto to the lose ball Meyiwa had gotten back to his feet and blocked the ball.

Bartlett pace

Thirty six minutes had elapsed when Shaun Bartlett did well to control a ball which had come over the top to him, after getting control of it he out ran Destin Makita much to the amazement of Bartlett himself. With Makita beaten he squared the ball across the face of goal where the ball was taken over the line by a sliding David Mathebula, whose very appearance in the match was in doubt because of an ankle injury he was carrying.

Makita clears

The second half was two minutes old when David Mathebula sent the ball out wide to Arthur Zwane, Mathebula then raced into the 18yard area and was just in front of Zwane’s return cross. He improvised and threw his leg at the ball and back heeled the ball goal wards, it almost paid off as the ball went beyond the sprawled Meyiwa but Destin Makita was on the line to do the cleaning up.

Khune thwarts Mokoena

Pirates best effort of the second half saw Lebogang Mokoena steel a marched on the Chiefs defense and from a tight angle about five yards from goal he unleashed a shot which pierced the Chiefs defence. Some how Itumeleng Khune had the armoury to make a breath taking save throwing out his right hand to block the ball. Pirates were reduced to ten men late in the game when Mlungisi Gumbi received his second yellow card for a foul on Thuso Phala. Excellent Walaza got the ball into the back of the net for Pirates in injury time at the end of the match, but the assistant referee had picked out that he kicked the ball out of Itumeleng Khune’s hands.

Dominance

It is now almost four years since Pirates managed to defeat Chiefs in a league match, it is worrying times for The Amakhosi’s rivals who have not scored a goal in five league matches, in addition Pirates have just won of their last eight league games . For the Buccaneers Saturdays loss was their fourth on the trott, while Chiefs continue their upsurge as the season closes and now find themselves in a position to finish the season inside the top five.

Match Details:

Kaizer Chiefs (4-5-1): 32. Khune, 2. Tau, 3. Bhasera, 6. McCarthy, 29. Tsotetsi,

27. Sibeko, 8. Nengomasha, 14. Tshabalala, 18. Zwane, 24. Mathebula, 17. Bartlett

Substitutions:


In: 26. Thuso Phala; Out: 18. Arthur Zwane 60 min


In: 7. Kaizer Motaung Junior; Out: 24. David Mathebula 81 min


In: 28. Derrick Spencer; Out: 14. Siphiwe Tshabalala 90 min




Substitutes not used: 1. Bocsker, 23. Bulu, 10. Nkambule, 25. Matle

Coach: Muhsin Ertugral


Assistant Coach: Fani Madida


Goalkeeper Coach: Rainer Dinkelacker

Orlando Pirates (4-4-2): 01. Meyiwa, 19. Mdledle, 04. Jele, 32. Thwala, 06. Gumbi,

23. Mokoena, 11. Modise, 12. Makita, 08. Walaza, 42. Chenene, 18. Masehe

Substitutions:


In: 26. Tlou Segolela; Out: 18. Paulos Masehe 71 min


In: 25. Rudzani Ramudzuli; Out: 11. Teko Modise 85 min




Substitutes not used: 44. Chansa, 38. Cashibe, 33. Chabalala, 15. Mhlambi, 41. Tshabalala

Cautions:


Yellow Cards: 19. Innocent Mdledle (kicking Shaun Bartlett 50 min)

11. Teko Modise (cutting down Tshabalala) 60 min, 06. Mlungisi Gumbi (not moving defensive wall back) 71 min

Dismissals: Red Card: 06. Mlungisi Gumbi (late tackle on Thuso Phala, second yellow) 86 min

Coach: Owen Da Gama


Goalkeeper Coach: Pierre Mbarga

Match Officials:


Referee: Charl Theron


Assistant 1: Fikile Mtintsilana


Assistant 2: Joel Morajane


4th Official: Robert Sithole


Match Commissioner: Job Smith