More like an unrestrained troika, Kaizer Chiefs keep galloping away from the chasing pack at the summit of the league. With 28 points on the scoreboard, 10-point gap from second-place Mamelodi Sundowns, it surely is beginning to show who the potential 2019/20 champions might be at the end of the season. Although it is too soon to dare a pronouncement of a kind with utter certainty, the idea is not far fetched, is it?
Kaizer Chiefs 3-2 Orlando Pirates
Packed to the rafters, the magnificent FNB Stadium was a hive of football festivities yesterday. A legion of fans from all walks of life witnessed a stupendous exchange between the mighty Soweto clubs in full display.
Hardly a minute from the starting blocks, the host, Chiefs were off to a flying start benefiting from an own goal by Ntsikelelo Nyauza, Pirates interim captain. Nyauza was trying to clear the ball by heading backwards to his goalkeeper Wyne Sandilands. Unfortunately, the keeper had left his goal line and was following the flight of the ball towards his defender to gather the crossed ball from a Chiefs player. To what appeared to be confusion of bad communication and lack of telepathy, the clearance was overcooked for the approaching Sandilands and the ball sailed smoothly over his bemused head and freely bounced into the wide empty net.
Fortune Makaringe, Pirates midfielder, came close after his 3rd minute strike came off the post. The gasping caretaker coach Rhulani Mokoena watched with unparalleled horror in the Johannesburg afternoon as Pirates went 1-0 down before the players bodies warmed up.
Mokoena’s horror show increased two fold. For Leonardo Castro connected with a corner kick and nodded the ball into goal [28′] to give Chiefs a commanding 2-0 lead. While the Buccaneers fans were numbed by what was unbelievably unraveling before their naked eyes, the Amakhosi faithful spontaneously erupted into an impregnable song.
A Vicent Pule inswing free-kick bent with vicious venom had Chiefs goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi punching the fresh air as the goal-bound ball licked the back of the net[39′]. The Buccaneers had halved the deficit [2-1].
Upon returning from the break, Pirates suffocated Chiefs the result which saw a Thembinkosi Lorch unmarked header come off the upright with the frozen Akpeyi spectating. Gabadinho Mango [59] restored Pirates’ hopes with a spookish rightfoot curler bent sweetly to the far post.
Amakhosi had let the 2-0 lead slip. The scoreline pretty poised at 2-2, it was obviously game on. At this juncture, the pendulum could swing either way. Pirates knew they were back in it and continued piling more pressure which left them exposed at the back to the pacey Chiefs attack.
Bungled Bernard Park fell in the box after Pirates’ Paseka Mako tried a sliding clearance. The referee pointed to the penalty spot. Dependable Chiefs defender Daniel Cardoso boldly approached the spot with a goal written all it on his forehead. He struck it hard and converted [84′] the penalty kick. Amakhosi were on the pound seat yet again (with a 3-2 advantage). Maximum points were in the offing.
The Buccaneers could have equalized should they have capitalised on their own (created) chances in the dying minutes of the game. As Pirates pushed for their 3rd, emotions took hold. Chiefs ended the game win 10 men after Eric Mathoho was red carded for shoving Abel Mabaso to the deck in a scarfle, the only remarkable blemish in yesterday Soweto derby.
OTHER ABSA PREMIERSHIP RESULTS:
Polokwane City 0-1 Baroka FC
It took Prince Nxumalo’s 7th minute goal to decide the Polokwane derby between Polokwane City and Baroka FC at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium yesterday.
Stellenbosch FC 0-0 Highlands Park
At the Cape Town Stadium, Stellenbosch were unable to break wounded Highlands Park who have lost a string of games of late. The league match finished all square on 0-0 by end of play.
Chippa United 2-0 Amazulu FC
In their first win of the 2019/20 Absa Premiership season, Chippa United thumped Amazulu FC 2-0 at Prince Magogo Stadium last night. William Twala brace [61′, 85′] gave the visitors a rare win away from home. A double even Twala will reminisce for some time to come broke the winless drought of the Chilli Boys. Until this loss, Usuthu came into this league encounter enjoying their cruise and undoubtedly the favourites.
Friday Nov. 8, 2019
Maritzburg United 2-2 Bloemfontein Celtic
Maritzburg United were held to a 2-2 draw at Prince Magogo Stadium last Friday night by Bloemfontein Celtic.
Sera Motebang [50′] gave the visitors the head start and Siphelele Luthuli [82′] consolidated Celtic’s lead only to throw it away within three (3) minutes. Daylon Claason [87′] halved Celtic’s 2-0 lead and Judas Moseamedi [90′] evened the scores late in the Absa Premiership league tie.
Bidvest Wits 0-1 SuperSport
In Johannesburg, Sipho Mbule [90′] pulled a late sucker punch to give SuperSport United away win over Wits at Bidvest Stadium Friday night. The Clever Boys had not seen league action since Oct. 1, 2019 and their loss did not come as a shock.