Bucs bury Chiefs

Goals make a welcome return to the Soweto derby

at FNB Stadium

● The gloss on the Soweto derby was restored when Orlando Pirates convincingly beat Kaizer Chiefs 3-1 in a lively match that probably ended Chiefs’ ambitions of displacing Mamelodi Sundowns at the top of the Absa Premiership table.

The win, courtesy of Luvuyo Memela’s two incredible second-half goals, saw the Buccaneers restore the four-point gap between them and Sundowns with seven matches to go.

Memela scored with his first touch in the 46th minute after he was introduced for Bernard Morrison at the start of the second half. The nippy winger got his second in the 74th minute after a good cross from Justin

The game swung end to end at breathtaking pace throughout the 90 minutes

Shonga, the Zambian striker who produced a man-of-the-match performance as he troubled Chiefs’ throughout the game.

Pirates stylishly took the lead via Thembinkosi Lorch's superb strike in the 21st minute.

Chiefs, though, refused to succumb, their pressing game ensuring an equaliser through Leonardo Castro's header off Siphiwe Tshabalala's free kick in the 28th minute.

Castro was the hungriest of Amakhosi attackers as he constantly bombarded Siyabonga Mpontshane in the first half.

Mpontshane only started in Pirates’ goal because of a late knee injury to Jackson Mabokgwane.

The game swung from end to end at breathtaking pace throughout the 90 minutes, but Pirates started strongly in the second half, inspired by Memela's lead.

Were it not for Chiefs captain Itumeleng Khune’s two stupendous saves, Pirates would have reached the 60th minute with a bigger lead.

Coach Milutin Sredojevic limited Bucs’ attack in the first half with his decision to leave Memela on the bench, preferring to slot in Gladwin Shitolo in his three-man defence.

Sredojevic was hoping to effectively utilise Mthokozisi Dube and Innocent Maela on the wings but their tracks were well covered by Chiefs wingbacks Ramahlwe Mphahlele and Philani Zulu on the flanks.

Pirates were always fancied to have the upper hand, simply because their penetration in the last third had been by far more convincing this year than Chiefs.

Pirates have looked a lot better this year, scoring 18 goals in eight matches in which six (including yesterday) have been victories that cemented their second spot on the log behind Sundowns.

Contributing 11 of those 18 goals (including yesterday's) were Bucs’ most on-form players, Lorch, Shonga with three each and Memela, whose two yesterday made it five he has scored this year.

Chiefs had come to their meeting with Bucs with only 19 goals in their 22 matches, their defence, courtesy of their inspirational captain Khune, the only shining light as it had conceded only 12 goals, making it the best in the league before yesterday.

Of late, Chiefs have been bailed out by Moon, the 21-year-old striker who only started featuring in Amakhosi's starting XI this year after starting the season in the doctor's room due to injuries.

Moon, who had a quiet game in his first derby, had scored four of Chiefs’ six goals in seven league matches this year.