Kaizer Chiefs beat Orlando Pirates 2-0 thanks to goals from Erick Mathoho and debutant Lewis Macha in the second half. The Amakhosi were clearly the better side. The Carling Black Label Champion Cup match took place at the FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon. It is the first trophy that Chiefs win since Steve Komphela took over the coaching reigns, which promises a lot for the upcoming season.

The supporters’ votes decided the line-ups for the Carling Black Label Champion Cup match. It resulted, for example, in Hendrick Ekstein starting for Amakhosi. None of the newly signed players was voted in the Chiefs line-up, which was mostly due to time constraints. The fans could only start voting for them in recent weeks, which was too short to make a real impact.

Amakhosi started the game as the better side, dominating possession and getting more into the Buccaneers box than the other way around.

However, no chances were created by the two sides during the first 30 minutes of play.

There was a magnificent atmosphere in the stadium, which was sold out.

The first goal scoring opportunity arose in the 31st minute when William Twala hit the ball from outside the box. The ball, however, flew over the crossbar.

Barely a minute a later, Chiefs looked to have scored the opener when Willard Katsande put the ball in the back of the net. But the referee decided that Lorenzo Gordinho had hit the goalkeeper when going up for the ball. It was an interesting decision from the referee, as it looked more as if Brighton Mhlongo was rather impeded by his own teammate.

Thereafter, it was Ekstein who looked close to scoring, but it wasn’t to be.

The game opened up, with Chiefs still looking the stronger side.

Bernard Parker came close to scoring in the 43rd minute, but the ball just went past the wrong side of sidebar.

Halftime finished as the game started, goalless.

Ramahlwe Mphahlele was voted by the supporters as the substitute to come on early in the second half, just beating another newly signed player, the Zimbabwean Edmore Chirambadare.

Lorenzo Gordinho, who had a fine game, was taken off.

Meanwhile, Parker released a superb shot at goal from outside the box in the 58th minute, hitting the crossbar. The ball returned into the field and found the head of Erick Mathoho, who finished nicely, 1-0.

Thereafter, Chiefs dominated the run of play getting more chances to extend the lead.

Twala looked threatening whenever in possession of the ball, while Katsande was his usual self, anchoring the midfield.

Pirates tried to come back and even got a great opportunity to equalise in the 74th minute, but captain Itumeleng Khune was alert, blocking the ball from going in goal.

Soon thereafter there was a bit of a scare for Khune when the goalkeeper came in collision with Pirates’ attacker Thamsanqa Gabuza. Khune went down, but, lucky enough, he recovered after a few minutes to continue the match.

Lewis Macha scored the second goal in extra time. It was a good finish from the Zambian debutant, who had come on for Ekstein in the 88th minute.

It was a well-deserved win for Amakhosi, displaying some good and entertaining soccer.

Chiefs last won the Carling Black Label Cup in 2013, winning 1-0.

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 2 (Mathoho 58’, Macha 96’)

Orlando Pirates 0

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune; Moleko, Gordinho (Mphahlele 50’), Mathoho (Cardoso 85’), Masilela (Khumalo 72’); Lebese (Letlotlo 79’), Maluleka, Katsande, Ekstein (Macha 88’); Twala, Parker

Orlando Pirates: Mhlongo; Jele (Nyauza 61’), Gcaba (Shitolo 72’), Gyimah, Matlaba; Makola, Sarr (Memela 50’), Manyisa, Rakhale; Ndoro, Gabuza (Morrison 76’)