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Orlando Pirates were a class apart in Saturday’s Soweto Derby as they thumped rivals Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 to bag maximum Betway Premiership points following a dominant performance at FNB Stadium.
The emphatic victory margin was the Buccaneers’ joint highest in the league this season, and also the biggest in a Premiership derby since the 2001/02 season. It brought them three-points clear at the top of the standings while they also extended their ongoing winning streak over their rivals to five league games.
The two most followed clubs in South Africa drew the usual full house in a derby that held great significance in the race for league honours. The Buccaneers were the quickest off the blocks, piling immense pressure on their hosts early on. This was when Relebohile Mofokeng forced an early corner with an attempt from range, moments before Kamogelo Sebelebele followed suit as his cross was deflected out.
It was the latter set piece that yielded the breakthrough just five minutes from kick-off when Deon Hotto combined with Tshepang Moremi, whose long-range shot caught a deflection from Flávio Silva inside the box on its way to the back of the net.
The ascendancy remained with the visitors following the opener and they continued to control possessions while Chiefs’ attempts to level matters were rebuffed by an organised defensive effort. The home side’s best attempt of the first half came after the half-hour mark when an uncharacteristic fumble from Sipho Chaine resulted in a chance but Hotto quickly reacted to clear the threat.
The close shout spurred the Buccaneers back into action and they were rewarded for their commitment in the opposition half where Kamogelo Sebelebele linked up with Mofokeng, maintaining possession before finding the unmarked Oswin Appollis who did not err in making it 2-0 with a well-taken finish with just six minutes remaining before the break.
They could have piled further misery on the opposition before the halftime whistle, but Makhehleni Makhaula’s effort from range was kept out by goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma.
A two-goal advantage was all that was possible for Pirates at the halfway mark, and they had to weather an early storm from Chiefs at the start of the second half. Amakhosi were however unable to pose a significant threat despite enjoying a promising spell, courtesy of disciplined defending from the visitors.
It looked as if the Buccaneers had gone three-up in the 55th minute when midfielder Thalente Mbatha had connected with a cross from a set piece, but his goal did not stand as the offside flag was up. That only turned out to be a minor setback as Bvuma was kept busy by Mofokeng and Moremi, who forced him into successive saves with shots from either flank.
The Chiefs shot stopper had no answer for the next attempt at his goal, and it was produced by replacement striker Evidence Makgopa who connected with a cross from Moremi to nod in at the near post in the 78th minute.
That goal handed Pirates ample breathing space with the clock winding down, and they went close to a fourth goal in the dying moments when captain Nkosinathi Sibisi made an excellent run from his own half to meet a cross coming in from the right, only to direct his effort narrowly wide.
Looking to pull one back, the home side had a desperate surge in stoppage time and managed a rare goal attempt through Wandile Duba who could not get past Chaine.
That elusive goal would have been scant consolation as the Buccaneers saw out a clinical performance to grab the spoils in the Soweto Derby.Pirates XI:Chaine, Seema, Sibisi, Sebelebele, Hotto, Makhaula, Mbatha (Nemtajela 61’), Mofokeng, Appollis (Appollis 84’), Moremi (Maswanganyi 84’), Mbuthuma (Makgopa 68’).
SOURCED FROM THE CLUB’S WEBSITE.