Kaizer Chiefs secured the bragging rights in the Soweto derby for the second time this season after defeating Orlando Pirates 2-1 at Orlando Stadium.
DStv Premiership
Result: Orlando Pirates 1-2 Kaizer Chiefs
Date: 05 March 2022
Venue: Orlando Stadium
Click through the gallery above to see the fans protesting outside Orlando Stadium before the game.
Before the game got underway, the team buses were met a number of fans who marched to the stadium in protest for the re-opening of stadiums.
Pirates made two changes from the draw against Cape Town City, as Thembinkosi Lorch and Ben Motshwari were recalled while Chiefs brought back Lebogang Manyama, Bernard Parker and Njabulo Ngcobo from the win over Baroka.
The opening exchanges were tightly contested but Amakhosi quickly gained an upper hand on transitions and Reeve Frosler gave them the lead in the 18th minute with a stunning strike from outside the box after a cut-back by Parker.
The Buccaneers had a big chance to level matters three minutes later after Kabelo Dlamini went clear on goal from Olisa Ndah's through ball over the defence but he fired his strike wide.
Stuart Baxter's charges thought they were 2-0 up in the 26th minute after Keagan Dolly finished off Billiat's through ball with a strike from a tight angle but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Amakhosi were then dealt an injury blow just before the halftime break as Billiat had to be replaced by Kearyn Baccus due to an injury, although Baxter's side held on for the lead at the break.
Scroll through the gallery to see the PSL stars turning out in the ABC Motsepe League.
Pirates came out firing in the second stanza and Peprah levelled matters nine minutes from the break with a tap-in after a cross by Thabang Monare from a counter-attack.
Chiefs were under tremendous pressure after that but the hosts were not taking their chances and Baxter made a double defensive change in the last ten minutes as Ramahlwe Mphahlele replaced Phathutshedzo Nange and Thabani Dube came on Njabulo Ngcobo.
Amakhosi eventually restored their lead just after that from a set-piece after Eric Mathoho powered home a close-range header from Dolly's corner.
Ndah came close to getting the equaliser for the Buccaneers in the dying minutes with a header on the far side hit the inside of the post and bounced upward but goalkeeper Brandon Petersen parried it into the crossbar and out of danger.
Petersen earned Chiefs the three points in virtually last kick after keeping out a strike by Terrence Dzvukamanja from close range, as Amakhosi went up to second on the log.
Here's how they started:
Pirates: 40. Mpontshane, 5. Nyauza, 49. Ndah, 26. Shandu, 29. Mako, 16. Monare, 6. Motshwari, 18. Dlamini, 3. Lorch, 11. Hotto, 46. Peprah
Subs: 31. Ofori, 42. Mabaso, 27. Dzvukamanja, 32. Mntambo, 25. Lepasa, 23. Maela, 17. Jooste, 9. Mabasa, 4. Jele
Chiefs: 1. Petersen, 3. Mathoho, 4. Cardoso, 27. Njabulo Ngcobo, 39. Frosler, 45. Blom, 21. Manyama, 24. Nange, 25. Parker, 10. Dolly, 11. Billiat.
Subs: 43. Bvuma, 2. Mphahlele, 8. Castro, 5. Baccus, 29. Dube, 12. Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, 26. Mabiliso, 14. Sekgota, 33. Radebe.
Who will score the first goal in the Soweto Derby?
