Staff Reporter
Orlando Pirates secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over their arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
They win see Pirates climb up to the seventh spot on the league standings, they are set to travel to KZN to face Richards Bay.
Chiefs, on the other hand, slipped down to the eighth spot on the standings and they will be desperate for a victory when they take on another Soweto rival in Moroka Swallows FC on November 26.
The Buccaneers started the match brightly despite losing Thabiso Monyane due to an injury. They fired the first warning in the 13th minute when Miguel Timm forced goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune into making a decent save.
Khune was then beaten seven minutes later when Bandile Shandu set up Evidence Makgopa who poked the ball home from close range to hand Pirates a well-deserved lead and the visitors were 1-0 up at halftime.
Amakhosi pushed for the equalising goal after the restart with a lot of crosses being played into Buccaneers’ box which saw Edson Castillo hit the upright with keeper Melusi Buthelezi well-beaten in the 66th minute.
However, the visitors had a chance to snatch another goal with eight minutes left, but Khune produced a fine save to deny eventual Man of the Match Patrick Maswanganyi and ultimately, the game ended in a 1-0 win in favour of Pirates.
Chiefs XI: Khune, Dove, Ditlhokwe, Msimango, Kwinika (Frosler 83′), Maart, Castillo, Mthethwa (Zwane 83′), Nk. Ngcobo (Shabalala 61′), Dolly (Mmodi 46′), Chivaviro (Saile 61′).
Pirates XI: Buthelezi, Monyane (Shandu 7′), Ndah, Xoki (Sibisi 72′), Hotto, Monare, Timm (Ndlondlo 72′), Maswanganyi, Lorch, Erasmus (Mofokeng 20′), Makgopa (Pule 72′).