JOHANNESBURG — Willard Katsande’s first goal for Kaizer Chiefs saw Amakhosi win the Soweto derby 1-0 over Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium yesterday.
The result saw Stuart Baxter’s team re-establish a healthy nine-point lead at the head of the Absa Premier Soccer League table before title rivals the Mamelodi Sundowns-Bidvest Wits played later. As for the Buccaneers, they remained in fourth place and are now a full 13 points off the pace of Chiefs and their title hopes look to have been extinguished.
Pirates created the first goalscoring chance in the fourth minute when Oupa Manyisa’s cross from the right byline found the head of Mpho Makola, but his effort to the near post was well-saved by young goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse.
On 11 minutes the Buccaneers created another opportunity when overlapping left-back Ayanda Gcaba sprung the offside trap and got a shot away from a tight angle, but Pieterse again came up with a good save.
Pirates were the more fluent and forceful team in the first half, pushing Chiefs onto the back foot and limiting them to mere scraps in attack.
The tense and bruising first half ended with the sides still locked at 0-0.
Bucs made a change at the start of the second half, throwing Lennox Bacela on in place of Helder Pelembe.
However, it was Chiefs who created the next scoring chance with Reneilwe Letsholonyane shooting over from just inside the penalty area.
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— SuperSport
