Kaizer Chiefs 2 (29. Bartlett 5 min, 25. Schalkwyk 77 min) Orlando Pirates 0


Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, Rustenburg


Vodacom Challenge: Match 3


Kick Off: 20:15


Temperature: 14.5°c, Wind NW 8.0 km/h

0-5 min: Pirates kick off in front of what could possibly be described as the poorest crowd attendance at a game between the two Soweto giants, Chiefs and Pirates. Those in the stadium are treated to a fast start to the game, as Chiefs break down a Pirates attack Siyabonga Nkosi’s clearances is chested by Bartlett into the path of David Radebe who out sprints the Pirates defense and sends a return pass to Bartlett. Whose snap shot catches out the defense but Francis Chansa in the Pirates goal is up to the challenge and sends the ball out for a corner. From the ensuing corner the ball invitingly for Fabian McCarthy, the Chiefs captain’s thunderbolt comes back out off the Pirates cross bar. The onslaught on the Pirates goal continues in the opening exchanges as Mathebula sends in a looping cross to the back post which is clinically met by, Shaun Bartlett’s down ward header away from Chansa to give Chiefs the lead.

5-10 min: The Amakhosi’s dominance of the game continues as the Chiefs midfield lead by Mathebula and Nkosi begins to give Chiefs the upper hand in proceedings, after another well worked move with Mathebula at the heart of it get a ball through the Pirates defense but Bartlett is just beaten to the ball. With Nkosi in support Mathebula takes on a number of Pirates players and in the return pass from Nkosi, he shoots from distance to make Chansa stretch to save what looked like a goal bound shot.

10 – 15 min: In this period of play it is still Chiefs who have the upper hand in the game as Siyabonga Nkosi weaves through three Pirates defenders, but plays the ball too far forward and Pirates manage to clear their lines. The frustration grows in the Pirates ranks as they are unable to keep hold of possession which forces Isaac Chansa into a two footed lunge on Chiefs midfielder Thabo Mooki, which earns Chiefs a free kick.

15-20 min: The highlight of this period of play is a combination of passes between Fabian McCarthy which sees the Chiefs duo give Pirates midfielder Gift Leremi the around, as they play a game of head tennis with each other. The toying around with Leremi is greeted with raptures from the crowd but not from Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp who wants his players to launch another attack and make sure of the game.

20-25 min: Kaizer Chiefs captain Fabian McCarthy is called into action as he slides into cut out a pass from Onyekachi aimed at the in running Chiefs quickly counter attack and David Radebe is sent through down the left. The delivery from the Chiefs striker back into the box is poor one has sends the ball over and out for a Pirates goal kick.

25-30 min: Pirates are still finding it difficult to find their rhythm as way ward Pirates pass finds David Mathebula who sprints towards Chansa’s goal with Tonic Chabalala closing in on him he is rushed into a shot which goes well wide of Chansa’s goal. A few minutes later and Chansa is once again called into action as Gerald Sibeko swings in a cross from the right, the Pirates keeper jumps above Shaun Bartlett to fist the ball away to safety.

30-35 min: On a rare occasion in the first half Pirates create some good space down the left as Lebo Mbele finds him self acres away from the closest Chiefs defender, his delivery into the centre is a poor one and is easily dealt with by Siphiwe Mkhonza.

35- 40 min: As the game enters the last ten minutes there some nervy times on each side as half time nears there a number of nervy moments on either side as Thabo Mooki sends in a long cross which is not dealt with by the Pirates defense and Francis Chansa has to cover for his inept defense. On the other end The Amakhosi are unable to clear a Pirates corner effectively until David Obua makes an acrobatic clearance to get the ball away.

40-45 min: In injury time at the end of the first half a small melee breaks out between the two teams as Isaac Chansa roughs up Siyabonga Nkosi, the referee is in quickly to calm the situation down. Chiefs end the first half a goal to the good as both teams head for the half time break.

45-50 min: Ernst Middendorp makes a number of changes at halftime but Chiefs keep up the pressure on Pirates with second half substitute Kaizer Junior winning a corner after testing Francis Chansa, with a shot from the edge of the Pirates 18 goal mouth.

50-55 min: The first time in the game Pirates show any desire to get an equalizer and give Rowen Fernandez his first real job of the evening as Mbele’s shot from distance is easily handled by the Chiefs keeper. Pirates begin to attack Chiefs more and more as another second half substitute Patrick Mayo is called in to halt the advancing Tyrone Arendse with a well timed tackle.

55-60 min: Both teams begin to open each other up and create chances as Chiefs go close, when Gerald Sibeko’s long throw falls invitingly to Shaun Bartlett who sees his shot ricochet off a Pirates defender. The Buccaneers than launch an attack of their own which culminates with Rowen Fernandez getting his first real test of the game as he goes to down well to stop a Lekgwathi rocket.

60-65 min: After absorbing Pirates pressure for a while Chiefs launch an attack which sees Derrick Spencer leave Onyekachi Okonkwo for dead, as he sends in a cross which Kaizer Motaung Junior rises to, the Chiefs strikers header leaves Chansa mooted to his goal line as it rocks the goal post.

65-70 min: Pirates string together a number of passes which Chiefs are unable to clear effectively, one of these neat interchanges of short passing football falls to Jabu Mahlangu whose well taken shot across the face goal, narrowly fails to beat Fernandez.

70- 80 min: Just as Pirates were beginning to show some neat touches, the game falls out of their reach as Thabo Mooki sends in a perfect cross from the right off a free kick and the ball meets substitute Gert Schalkwyk’s head. The Chiefs midfielders’ header flies up and over Chansa and with the assistance of the goalpost falls over the line to double Chiefs advantage and seal the win for Chiefs.

80-90 min: Pirates press late on for consolation but it is not to be their night as Lelo Mbele hits the side netting deep into injury time as Pirates resign themselves to their fourth straight defeat to Chiefs.

Line Up’s:

Kaizer Chiefs: 1. R. Fernandez, 13. D. Obua (21. Mayo 46 min), 44. S. Mkhonza, 6. F. McCarthy,

24. D. Mathebula, 27. G. Sibeko, 8. T. Nengomasha, 12. T. Mooki, 10. S. Nkosi (25. Schalkwyk 58 min),

29. S. Bartlett (20. Agyemang 82 min), 31. D. Radebe (7. Motaung Jnr 46 min)

Substitutes: 30. R. Wuest, 33. D. Mototo, 4. C. Nzama, 2. J. Tau, 28. D. Spencer, 21. P. Mayo,

18. A. Zwane, 25. G. Schalkwyk, 7. K. Motaung Jnr, 20. L. Agyemang, 9. S. Djiehoua, 11. E. Ngobese

Coach: Ernst Middendorp

Orlando Pirates: 44. F. Chansa, 14. L. Lekgwathi, 32. L. Thwala, 33. T. Chabalala, 05. E. Malinga,

28. O. Onyekachi, 35. I. Chansa (11. Mahlangu 65 min), 34. G. Modabi (16. Sibeko 60 min),

07. G. Leremi (24, Makhanya 74 min), 26. C. Chabalala (06. Mbele 25 min),

18. T. Arendse (23. Mokoena 65 min)

Substitutes: 01. A. Phali, 31. K. Mabe, 12. S. Mathe, 16. C. Sibeko, 21. S. Manamela, 24. J. Makhanya,

11. J. Mahlangu, 23. L. Mokoena, 06. B. Lelo – Mbele

Coach: Teboho Moloi

Cautions: Kaizer Chiefs: Yellow Cards, 8. Nengomasha 30 min, 7. Motaung 86 min


Orlando Pirates: Yellow Cards, 33. T. Chabalala 58 min

Officials:

Referee: Patrick Kapanga (Malawi)


Assistant 1: Lazarus Matela


Assistant 2: Siphiwe Jibiliza


4th Official: Jonas Nhlapho