Orlando Pirates gained some measure of pride from an otherwise disappointing season when they defeated their arch rivals and Castle Premiership favourites Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 in a hard fought Soweto derby played at the FNB stadium on Saturday.

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There was no score at half-time.

Bucs mercurial winger Joseph Makhanya scored the all important goal early in the second half that sank Amakhosi.

However, Chiefs are still the favourites to win the championship. They still have a five point lead over second placed Ajax Cape Town at the top of the log.

The first half failed to live up to expectations. The capacity crowd of about 80 000 ensured that there would be a tense atmosphere. Neither side were prepared to commit themselves. As a result the opening 45 minutes was a dull affair with both side ensuring that mistakes were kept to the minimum.

Pirates had the edge territorially but failed to punish Chiefs, who looked nervous as they moved closer to winning their first league title in 12 years.

A clever cross into the goalmouth by Bucs new teenage sensation Lebo Mokoena in the third minute was wasted as no team-mate was on hand to tap home the defence splitting ball.

Pirates next attack also failed in the 20th minute when playmaker Benedict Vilakazi set up winger Makhanya. But the

diminutive Makhanya blasted wide when he found himself in a good goal scoring position.

Bheka Phakathi headed a Mokoena cross over the Amakhosi cross bar four minutes from the break.

Pirates took the initiative after half-time. Mokoena had a shot deflected for a corner in the 47th minute. Two minutes later the Buccaneers' Steve Lekoelea hit wide when he was set up inside the Chiefs penalty area.

But Chiefs finally cracked under the pressure and it was Makhanya, who thudded home another neat pass from the budding star Mokoena to make it 1-0 in the 52nd minute and set up a great roar from the Bucs supporters in the capacity crowd.

Chiefs striker David Radebe had a close range shot well saved by Bucs goalkeeper Thabang Radebe in the 70th minute.

Radebe did well in the 90th minute to save a free kick from substitute John "Shoes" Moshoeu. But the Bucs keeper blotted his copy book in the referee's optional time when he was booked for time wasting.

Then deep into injury time Bucs had a scare when a goalbound Junior Khanye shot was deflected for a corner.

The victory sees the Buccaneers move one notch up on the log to the sixth spot two points ahead of Wits University as they seek to finish within the top eight bracket.

Meanwhile, despite losing this mother of all derby in the South African football calender, if not Africa, Amakhosi are still on track for their first league championship in over 10 year, and only need to points from a possible 15 to win their first title.

Teams:

Orlando Pirates: Radebe, Khomane, Tau, Musasa, Nedshodwe, Makhanya, Phakathi, Dinha, Lekoelea (Kauleza), Vilakazi (Cele), Mokoena (Thwala).

Kaizer Chiefs: Baloyi, McCarthy, Nzama, Spencer, Mabedi, Nengomashe, Fredericks, Mendu (Moshoeu), Khanye, Radebe (Mayo), Mbesuma (Musasa).