SMART MAART TAKES THE SOWETO CROWN
A MOMENT of solo brilliance, and yet nonchalance, from Yusuf Maart handed Kaizer Chiefs their first win over arch-rivals Orlando Pirates this season.
Chiefs took all the three points from Pirates to climb to third place on the log, while Pirates, who have a final to play next Saturday, remained in fifth place.
Chiefs’ win didn’t only ensure that Amakhosi finished the first half of the term on a high, but it brought relief to Arthur Zwane, who’s been under pressure.
The better part of the footballing fraternity was divided coming into this game owing to their allegiances to the two giants of South African football.
And that’s why both sides had to live up to expectations from the thousands that filled this iconic 2010 World Cup venue to its capacity in the post-covid era.
On paper, Pirates were the favourites, given their recent winning run, where they also progressed to the MTN8 final after beating league champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
So, high on confidence and happy with his players, coach Jose Riveiro made only two changes to the team that started in the MTN8 semis in Polokwane.
Zakhele Lepasa partnered Kermit Erasmus up front, while Goodman Mosele replaced the suspended anchor Miguel Timm in the Bucs’ engine room.
Chiefs, who were tipped as the underdogs in this game, made three changes, with the beleaguered Khama Billiat leading the line in search of goals.
But it was Pirates who tested the waters first as the red-hot Monnapule Saleng drilled a hard and low shot that was saved by Brandon Petersen.
Pirates were not only pressing Chiefs, but they dominated possession, looking to expose the pockets of spaces in the Glamour Boys’ final third.
While Chiefs were happy to give Pirates the ball, they used long balls to find their runners, as they knew that marksman Ashley du Preez had speed.
That feat should have paid off not only once but twice for Du Preez, who began a one-on-one duel with goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane later on.
But Du Preez fluffed both opportunities to score. His initial shot was weak and was saved by Mpontshane, who also parried the follow-up curler for a corner-kick.
By the time this game went into half-time, it was evenly matched. But Chiefs will know that they should have led, having had most of the chances.
Heeding Chiefs’ threat from the first half, Riveiro made two substitutions during half-time as Kabelo Dlamini and Fortune Makaringe took to the field.
That was Pirates’ third substitution after Innocent Maela came off early in the first half and was replaced by Paseka Mako when he sustained an injury.
Kermit Erasmus, who had put a hard and low shot wide earlier, nearly lifted the Calabash’s roof in the second half, but his curling shot was wide of the goal.
But, again, Chiefs flipped the script, as they made inroads into Pirates’ final third.
Except that this time they were in sheer control in their build-up play.
And, boy, were they rewarded in style!
Maart noticed that Mpontshane was off his line, before lobbing a ball from the centre-line into the empty net.
Chiefs should have doubled their tally in no time after Nkosingiphile Ngcobo controlled well inside the box, only for his effort to go wide of the target.
In the end, though, Maart’s goal was all it took for Amakhosi to claim the town’s bragging rights and their last win of the first half of the season.