You could tell it would be a draw

Sundowns will definitely be the happiest team after this weekend’s Absa Premiership results. Bidvest Wits will be licking their wounds after the defeat at Highlands Park, and as for the Soweto derby, a draw was something I saw coming. I knew Ernst Middendorp would set up his stall to nullify Orlando Pirates. Kaizer Chiefs closed down the flanks, where Pirates are most dangerous.

It nearly cost Chiefs in the first half when Pirates broke through the centre and Xola Mlambo almost scored. But generally I think Chiefs did well to disrupt Pirates’ free-flowing football. In doing that, however, they sat back and didn’t threaten enough in the first half.

In the second half both teams went for it. It was some brilliant work by Khama Billiat who stole the ball from Asavela Mbekile. Billiat might have been fouled but you shouldn’t get caught in possession like that.

As a defender you should also know the guys you can tackle and the guys who dive. Against Billiat you have to be careful, because if you don’t get it right, he is very clever. It was a bit reckless from Mbekile, he had cover yet just dived in.

I thought Chiefs deserved the penalty. It was an intelligent dive from Billiat. He was clever enough to know when he was in the penalty area and to get his body in front of the defender.

He was intelligent enough to know how to protect the ball. He made a meal of the foul, but he had the right to because he was pulled from behind. He caught Mbekile in possession and he was trying to recover.

Where Chiefs then got it wrong is that they couldn’t manage the game. The way they approached the game in the first half changed. They allowed Pirates to play their own game, and got a reaction.

Not having Willard Katsande available in midfield was a blow, and for the goal the Chiefs defence fell asleep, they were pushed back and Pirates scored the equaliser.

All in all, it was a fair result, but in terms of excitement and flair it fell down. Happy Mashiane had a few exciting touches, and you had Thembinkosi Lorch with one or two good moves, but it was not the normal derby atmosphere we crave.

It was a tactical battle and maybe we need to accept that football has changed.

Thembinkosi Lorch has been a livewire for Pirates. When they are looking for something to happen, he always seems to be there. He is more consistent than everyone thought he would be, he is growing in stature. For his goal, it was an intelligent run, he found a pocket of space in the centre and made a run in behind, and it was a brilliant pass from deserved Manof-the-Match Ben Motshwari.

To touch on the goalkeepers, both passed with flying colours. The quality of these goalkeepers is not in question, the matter for Wayne Sandilands was confidence which he needs to instil in the Pirates fans.

He was in the Bafana Bafana team and was a regular for Mamelodi Sundowns, then he had one or two lapses, so I am glad he had a solid game.

If you look at Daniel Akpeyi of Chippa United, he has conceded a lot, but Chippa were towards the bottom of the table, and if your defence is not solid, you don’t have a prayer. The fact that Akpeyi is part of the Nigerian national team shows his pedigree.