Mazinyo’s grip intact
Middendorp's record of never having lost to Pirates is secure
Both sides struggled to impose their game, with too many wayward passes in the first 10 minutes
● Kaizer Chiefs cemented their Absa Premiership title credentials with a rare league double over Soweto arch-rivals Orlando Pirates when they beat them 1-0 in front of a sold-out crowd yesterday.
The victory will be celebrated by fans eager to see their club end a five-year trophy drought in their 50th anniversary year.
Amakhosi coach Ernst Middendorp, who came into this match under immense pressure having lost the club’s last league tie here against Maritzburg United, will thank No 1 goalkeeper and man-of-the-match Daniel Akpeyi for keeping a rampant Pirates at bay with a number of brilliant saves, especially in the second half of this spectacular match.
The win keeps Middendorp’s unbeaten record of five league matches against the Buccaneers intact in his two spells at Chiefs — a rare feat.
Chiefs pull away
More importantly for Amakhosi, the victory earned through Lebogang Manyama’s 30thminute stunner, ensures that Chiefs pull away by seven points from second-placed champions Mamelodi Sundowns and Pirates, looking to move to second with a record seventh successive win, remain nine points adrift in a now distant third.
Played in cool and mostly overcast weather conditions, the match was expected to be a spectacle much like the first round, won 32 by Chiefs — a first derby league victory for Amakhosi since 2014.
Both sides struggled to impose their game, with too many wayward passes in the first 10 minutes during which only Manyama took a pot shot at Wayne Sandilands’ goal after linking up with Leonardo Castro.
But as the match entered the second 10 minutes, Pirates gained control as they started to implement their short passing game, leaving Chiefs waiting to pounce and punish their mistakes.
The league’s leading scorer Gabadinho Mhango should have put Bucs ahead in the 14th minute but Akpeyi justified why Middendorp preferred him ahead of the now fit Bafana Bafana keeper Itumeleng Khune.
The Nigerian No 1 pulled off a stupendous save off the goalline to deny Mhango his 15th goal of the season after Thembinkosi Lorch had danced his way past Kgotso Moleko on the left and crossed to Luvuyo Memela.
A mistake by Pirates duly came in the 30th minute and Manyama scored his sixth goal of the season, one that could be critical in winning Amakhosi their first league title since 2015.
Reeve Frosler intercepted a loose pass by Bucs rightback Mthokozisi Dube on the centre line, fed Samir Nurkovic to lay it off to Manyama who took a few touches before unleashing an unstoppable low shot to beat a diving Sandilands.
Pirates continued to dominate possession in the second half but Chiefs were always content with catching them on the counter, and on set pieces around the area, which is where Middendorp has had it spot on all season.
Chiefs’ defender Erick Mathoho could have stretched the lead to 2-0 in the 70th minute but he missed Manyama’s cross with a header a few seconds before Akpeyi pulled off a triple save on shots taken by Memela, Mhango and Lorchm, before Vincent Pule went wide again after a corner.