By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Orlando Pirates staged a comeback to secure a 3-2 victory in the Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Pirates secured a first league ‘double’ over the Chiefs since 2008-09 thanks to a brace from Monnapule Saleng, while the hero for the team in gold was Ashley du Preez, who twice put his team in the lead.
The result pushed Pirates up to second place on the log on 33 points, while Chiefs dropped to seventh on 29 points.
Chiefs started the quicker of the two teams and had the first chance in just the second minute, with Pule Mmodi dragging a shot wide from the left side of the penalty area.
Just four minutes later the Amakhosi claimed the lead, with Mmodi playing a clever pass into the channel between centre-back and right-back, allowing Ashley du Preez to sprint into the box before firing a left-footed shot into the roof of the net for 1-0.
The goal shocked Pirates into life and they began to find an attacking rhythm, with Patrick Maswanganyi particularly effective down the left flank – inside the opening quarter hour he drew a key intervention from goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma and also almost forced an own goal from Zitha Kwinika.
Pirates kept up their momentum and drew level on 24 minutes: Maswanganyi stole possession high up the field, before feeding Tshegofatso Mabasa – he in turn teed up Monnapule Saleng, who struck a low effort from the ‘D’ of the box past the left hand of Bvuma for 1-1.
Pirates looked the better team through the remainder of the first half, but Chiefs restored their lead a couple of minutes before the break, as Mduduzi Mdantsane and Mmodi combined to set up Du Preez, who emphatically volleyed into the top corner to see his side 2-1 up.
The Buccaneers picked up in the second half where they left off in the first half and scored a second equaliser in the 57th minute. Thabiso Lebitso latched onto a loose ball outside the penalty area and drove a superb long-range shot into the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar for 2-2.
Chiefs responded with a triple change on 64 minutes, as Wandile Duba, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo and Dillon Solomons were introduced off the bench, but it was Pirates who seized the initiative and took the lead for the first time on 68 minutes.
Maswanganyi continued his excellent performance with a perfectly-weighted lob over the defence which allowed Saleng to beat Bvuma to the ball and stab home his second goal of the day, for a 3-2 advantage.
Chiefs sought a way back into the game, but the closest they came was a header from Edson Castillo on 89 minutes which was comfortably saved by Sipho Chaine, while Bvuma kept Chiefs in touch with a superb stop to deny Mofokeng on a counter attack in injury time.
The teams will only return to Premiership action at the end of the month (due to the Nedbank Cup and international break), with Pirates away to Sekhukhune United and Chiefs visiting Cape Town City.