Seldom do derby days look so predictable than the forthcoming second clash of the Soweto giants in a week. Orlando Pirates have done more to be in the MTN8 Cup final already. On the flip side, Kaizer Chiefs have to do the hard yards to make up for their capitulation on Oct. 31.
Sunday | November 8, 2020
Orlando Pirates go into their second leg of the MTN8 Cup semifinal with one foot in the final after hammering Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday, Oct. 31.
Today, Chiefs have a monumental task to turn a three-goal deficit at FNB Stadium (Soccer City), south of Johannesburg, at 15:00.
For this to happen, Amakhosi need to be at their best and dig deep to book their place in the final. Anything less, they will bomb out of the first-cup tournament of the new – 2020/21 – season in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
Their fierce opposition, the Buccaneers, will indeed think of consolidating their lead first; then pounce on any window opportunity to seal their emphatic win in the first leg when the two club’s meet this afternoon.
Celtic stun SuperSport
After all is said and done, the victorious team will do battle against Bloemfontein Celtic for the ultimate MTN8 prize. The latter delivered a fatal blow to SuperSport United in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
A Sepana Victor Letsoalo (49′) strike ensured Celtic a berth in the MTN8 Cup final after their 1-1 draw in Pretoria last Sunday. The final score yesterday was 2-1 on aggregate, laying bare a clear path for Sewelele to wait for the winner between Pirates and Chiefs today.
Dugout chess moves
While Gavin Hunt, the new Kaizer Chiefs head coach, is still feeling the waters and getting himself settled in the club, Orlando Pirates head coach Josef Zinnbauer is away due to family issues back in Germany.
Bild reported that his son, Fabio (24) was involved in a freak car accident and, at the time it was reported that he was fighting for his life in a German hospital.
Although the horrific crash happened a few days before the Soweto derby in the MTN8 first-leg, Zinnbauer opted to stay and left for Europe after that particular game. The Pirates head coach may have done enough damage to Chiefs in a strong bid to secure the MTN8 Cup final spot.
Nevertheless, his [Zinnbauer] assistant coach Fadlu David and the members of the technical team were in charge last Wednesday when Pirates edged Celtic 1-0 in the DStv Premiership League clash.
Uphill score
Meanwhile things seem to be coming together on the Buccaneers’ side, the same can not be said about their arch-rivals. Amakhosi are having one of their worst starts this season. Compounding their woes is the confirmed FIFA ban that prohibits them from recruiting new players to reinforce their squad.
The ban will be in force for two consecutive windows before they are granted a leeway to sign players. For now, Chiefs have to slog along with their current players and a few others promoted from their development structures.
The midweek DStv Premiership League goalless dull draw at home against lowly rated new-comers, TS Galaxy, made their hapless situation all the more discernable.
Even so, Chiefs have fixtures to honour and games to play. And compete. They have nothing to lose nor spare in today’s do-or-die second derby clash in the new season in a cup tie. Without a shred of contradiction, they are going to bring the game to Pirates to avoid elimination from the 2020 MTN8 Cup. In spite of that, a 3-goal lead is nothing to scoff at and Pirates will do their best to hold onto it.
That said, anything can happen in football, moreso in a cup game. There is so much at stake in these kinds of competitions. They tend to deliver exhilarating action. The Chiefs-Pirates face-off is no different.