Amakhosi unlucky in derby loss
Amakhosi unlucky in derby loss

Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Jan 31, 2021.

30 January 2021

Orlando Pirates           (1) 2 (Lorch 38’, Ndlovu 80’)

Kaizer Chiefs                (0) 1 (Cardoso 85)

 

Kaizer Chiefs can feel hard done by after falling to a 2-1 loss at the Orlando Stadium in a DStv Premiership game against Orlando Pirates on Saturday afternoon. Amakhosi had the bigger chances but ultimately were undone by not making the most of the opportunities that fell their way. Thembinkosi Lorch scored the opening goal for Pirates in the 38th minute, Samir Nurković had a penalty saved early in the second half, before Siphesihle Ndlovu scored a second for Pirates on 80th minute. Daniel Cardoso scored a late goal for Chiefs, but it was not enough for Chiefs as the game ended 2-1 in Pirates favour.

The first major chance of the match in the 20th minute fell to Chiefs. Nurković did well to control the ball and chested into the path of Lebogang Manyama. He raced up the pitch, picked out Nurković with a ball along the ground to his right. Nurković in turn sent the ball towards the opposite looking to pick out Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, instead Ntsikelelo Nyauza intercepted the pass and as it came towards Pirates’ keeper Ofori. He was knocked by Hlatshwayo and the ball fell to Ngcobo, who rolled it towards Manyama, whose driven effort at goal was blocked by Ofori. The rebound fell back to Manyama who attempted to tope poke the ball home but sent his attempt wide at goal.

In the 23rd minute, a good tackle on the half- way line by Njabulo Blom on Thabang Monare saw the ball fall to Reeve Frosler - he sent the ball long from just inside his own half and managed to get it over the Pirates backline into the opposition 18-yard. Nurković leaped up into the air and with a good piece of skill he brought the ball under control and attempted a shot at goal which went over Ofori’s goal.

Seven minutes before the end of the half and against the run of play Pirates took the lead. It was after long ball from Happy Jele by Pirates was flicked backwards by Frosler, Daniel Akpeyi came off the line and blocked the ball at the feet of Lorch. As the ball was running away to safety, it hit the Pirates attackers trailing leg and he was able to get the ball beyond Akpeyi and then rolled the ball into the net to give Pirates the lead.

The final action of the first half saw Siyabonga Ngezana come cut out a pass from Fortune Makaringe just outside the Chiefs penalty box as Pirates led 1-0 at the break. Chiefs dominated for large swaths of the game were but unlucky to have been trailing at half time. The Glamour Boys had seven goal attempts in the first 45 minutes and were not able to find the back of the net.

Five minutes after the restart, Ngezana was able to run down the right wing and send in a looping cross to the far post, where he found second half substitute Happy Mashiane who hit the ball at the first time of asking on the volley. His effort went wide of goal.

A minute later, Chiefs were awarded a penalty. Mashiane attacked after a pass from Manyama and felled by Ben Motshwari just inside the Pirates 18-yard area. From the ensuing spot kick, Nurković’s penalty was saved by Ofori, who managed to stick out a hand and stopped the ball. Ngezana attacked the rebound but drove the ball into the side net.

Just past the hour mark, a long throw in from Frosler from the right was flicked by Ngezana towards Blom, whose shot at goal was blocked by Nyauza. The rebound fell to Daniel Cardoso who tried his luck from a distance but drove the ball high and wide of goal.

In the 70th minute Pirates remonstrated with the referee after they had calls for a penalty turned down. Three Pirates players, Motshwari, Monare and Lorch picked up yellow cards for dissent in the aftermath of their remonstrations.

With 10 minutes to go, Pirates scored their second goal. After Chiefs went all out for an equaliser, Paseka Mako managed to eventually take on and get past Frosler on the left by byline before rolling it into the path of Ndlovu, who drove the ball past Akpeyi to double Pirates’ lead.

With five minutes to go, Chiefs got a route back into the game as a Chiefs corner from the left broke down. The ball eventually fell to Willard Katsande on the right side of the Pirates 18-yard area, he floated the ball over and found Cardoso who jumped up and headed the ball home to make the score 2-1.

Chiefs were unable to complete the comeback and instead saw their five-game unbeaten run in the league come to an end.  Amakhosi can take heart from their performance which saw them dominate the game but were unlucky not to have got something out of the match.

 

Fact of the Game:

Daniel Cardoso scored his fourth goal against Orlando Pirates for Chiefs in all competitions. In the PSL Era he is now the club’s joint top scorer against Orlando Pirates along with Leonardo Castro and Siphiwe Tshabalala.

 

Number of the Game - 45: 

Daniel Cardoso has started Chiefs last 45 league games.

 

Most Valuable Player (MVP):

Samir Nurković was unlucky to miss a penalty. However, he put in a captain’s performance and was full of fight all afternoon long as he became the first player born outside of the African continent to captain Chiefs in a derby against Pirates in the PSL era. Reeve Frosler was strong down the wing. Kearyn Baccus applied himself well while Happy Mashiane was involved in the thick of the action when coming on.

Teams:

Chiefs:  Akpeyi; Ngezana (Zuma 77’), Zulu, Cardoso; Agay, Blom (Castro 72’), Baccus (Katsande 83’), Ngcobo (Mashiane 46’), Frosler, Manyama; Nurković ©

Subs not used: Bvuma; Moleko, Mathoho, Sasman, Parker

Pirates:  Ofori; Hlatswayo, Jele ©, Nyauza, Sam (Mako 56’); Motshwari, Monare (Mntambo 84’), Makaringe, Pule, Lorch (Mhango 84’); Hotto (Ndlovu 69’)

Subs not used: Sandilands, Zungu, Dlamini, Dzvukamanja, Jooste

 

What’s next?

Chiefs next game will be a Nedbank Cup Round of 32 encounter at home on the 7th February against Richards Bay.

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