Orlando Pirates (0) 1
(Maswanganyi 90+7’ pen.)

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0

Betway Premiership
FNB Stadium, Nasrec

Kaizer Chiefs suffered an agonising 1-0 defeat to eternal rivals, Orlando Pirates due to a questionable stoppage time penalty in the first Betway Premiership Soweto Derby of the season at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.

Njabulo Blom was adjudged to have pulled Relebohile Mofokeng back as he bore down on goal in referee’s added time and Patrick Maswanganyi held his nerve to score the winning goal with virtually the last kick of the game.

This was not a game for the faint hearted and the majority of the match was attritional rather than attractive. Nevertheless, it was absorbing and thrilling, frequently edge-of-the=seat stuff, although neither side yielded an inch up until the very end.

There was nothing to separate the teams in the first half as every ball was contested with the ferocity that has come to be a hallmark of this fixture over half a century of battles between them.

Pule Mmodi had a glorious opportunity to open the scoring after only two minutes after a Nkosinathi Sibisi clearance ricocheted back off one of his own players, inadvertently setting Mmodi clean through on goal. The forward shaped to go around Sipho Chaine, but the goalkeeper managed to stick out an arm and prevent him from putting the ball into an empty net.

No quarter was asked or given by either side and the midfield skirmishes often brought gasps from the 90 000 fans packed into the FNB stadium, as the likes of Sibongiseni Mthethwa and George Matlou against Makhehlene Makhaula Thalente Mbatha fighting tooth and nail for their respective causes.

Pirates’ only attack of note came in the 21^st minute, as Mofokeng latched onto a long ball over the top, but Inacio Miguel was there with a timely interception to avert the danger. Miguel was imperious in the first half, largely keeping Tshegofatso Mabasa quiet, although the striker did miss a gilt-edged chance just after half an hour.

It was still all to play for as they went into the break with no score on the board.

Amakhosi looked the more dangerous early in the second period, with Mmodi bringing a save out of Chiene in the 51^st minute.

Nasdreddin Nabi gave debuts to new signings Thabo Cele and Glody Lilepo in the second half and they injected some energy into the Chiefs effort. Ranga Chivaviro came close a couple of times, curling a shot wide in the 76^th minute and then forcing a save from Chiene two minutes later.

Meanwhile, at the other end, Bvuma performed some heroics in saving shots from Mabasa, Mofokeng and Deon Hotto, getting shaken by his clash with Mabaso but bravely insisting on playing on.

Then, deep into stoppage time, with the match seeming heading for a draw, Mofokeng slipped in behind the Chiefs defence and Blom, with the slightest of touches on him, was penalised for impeding the Pirates player and Maswanganyi converted from the spot to win the game right at the death.

Amakhosi now lie fifth in the Betway Premiership standings, on 22 points from 15 matches and despite the bitter result they will be buoyed by one of their best performances of the season as they go into their next match, at home to AmaZulu on Tuesday evening, 4 February at FNB Stadium.

Line-ups:

Kaizer Chiefs: Bvuma (44), Miguel (84), Dortley (14), Ditlhokwe (24), Blom (6), Mthethwa (5), Zwane (37) (Maart (8) 60’), Matlou (22) (Cele (21) 50’), Mmodi (13) ), (Vilakazi (28) 86’), Shabalaa (42) (Lilepo (99) 60’) Chivaviro (7) (Sirino (10) 86’)

Subs not used: Ntwari (1), Msimango (25), Cross (48), Frosler (39)

Coach: Nasreddine Nabi

Orlando Pirates: Chaine (24), Sesane (36), Sibisi (5), van Rooyen (3) (Shandu (26) 83’), Hotto (7), Mbatha(16) (Mako (29) 83’), Makhaula (8), Nkotha (33) (Dlamini (18) 46’), Mofokeng (38), Maswanganyi (28), Mabasa (19) (Makgopa (17) 75’)

Subs not used: Buthelezi (35),Ndlozi (34), Rasebotja (31), Xoki (27), Kimvuidi (25)

Coach: Jose Riveiro