Tshepang Moremi’s goal helped Orlando Pirates edge Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in the Soweto Derby at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Tshepang Moremi’s Goal Makes It 2-1 in the Soweto Derby
Moremi’s 56th-minute goal ensured that the Buccaneers secured three points in the sold-out Betway Premiership showdown between the Soweto giants. Thapelo Mokobodi set up the winning goal with a champagne pass, and Moremi tapped in from close range.
The Bucs’ Yanela Mbuthuma opened the scoring in the 24th minute after beating Amakhosi’s offside trap. His shot then took a huge deflection from Thabo Moloisane before going into the net. Mokobodi also provided the assist.
A minute before scoring, Mbuthuma missed a golden opportunity to open the scoring. He found himself one-on-one with Brandon Petersen, but Inacio Miguel recovered well and pulled off a goal-saving tackle.
Who Scored Kaizer Chiefs’ Equaliser in the Soweto Derby?
Pule Mmodi scored Chiefs’ equaliser in the 30th minute after a colossal mistake by Sipho Chaine. Facing no pressure, Chaine failed to gather Mfundo Vilakazi’s cross and gifted Mmodi an easy goal.
Mmodi, who was the quickest to react to Chaine’s error, easily tapped in from close range. Mmodi also came agonisingly close to scoring in the 15th minute when he received a cross from Lebohang Maboe, but he sent his close-range shot inches wide.
The Biggest Scoring Chance in the Soweto Derby
The biggest chance of the match fell to Wandile Duba in the 12th minute. Duba received a defence-splitting pass from Mduduzi Shabalala, but failed to beat Chaine.
Duba dribbled past Deon Hotto, composed himself inside the box, but Chaine pulled off a miraculous save. The Amakhosi forward, who scored a hat-trick midweek, should have done better, but allowed his nerves to get the better of him.
Abdeslam Ouaddou Changes Tactics in the Second Half
The Sea Robbers’ coach Abdeslam Ouaddou made a tactical makeover early in the second half after realising that Vilakazi was giving Pirates problems in the first half.
Vilakazi won his battle with Nkosikhona Ndaba in the first period of the derby and kept threatening the Pirates goal. Realising that, Ouaddou took off Ndaba in the 46th minute and introduced Gamphani Lungu in his place.
The Betway Premiership-winning coach then instructed Lungu to play at right-back and sent Hotto to play at left-back. Hotto completely shut down Vilakazi, forcing Fernando Da Cruz to take off the young winger.
Orlando Pirates’ Missed Chances
Ouaddou couldn’t believe how many chances his side missed in the last ten minutes of the thriller. Moremi should have buried Chiefs in the 85th minute, but his shot came off the woodwork. Petersen was beaten at the time.
Moremi also missed from close range, sending his shot inches off the right post after finding himself one-on-one with Petersen. Bafana Bafana striker Evidence Makgopa also failed to score in the 87th minute after receiving a clever pass inside the box.
Chiefs finished the match with ten players as the referee sent Miguel off in the 90+1st minute. The defender had received his first yellow card in the 82nd minute.
Pirates’ Simphiwe Selepe should also have received his second yellow card in the 41st minute after tripping Vilakazi, but the referee was lenient at the time.
Selepe, who received a card in the 38th minute for another serious foul, was substituted in the 60th minute.
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For a live score of any Orlando Pirates or Kaizer Chiefs fixture and a detailed match timeline, including scorers, cards, and substitutions, visit our live scores page.
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