Soweto, South Africa – Orlando Pirates’ Betway Premiership title hopes suffered a blow after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Kaizer Chiefs in a pulsating Soweto derby at FNB Stadium on Sunday.
Pule Mmodi put Amakhosi ahead in the 62nd minute, but Kamogelo Sebelebele pulled Pirates level with 15 minutes remaining to ensure the spoils were shared between the two Johannesburg giants.
The match got off to a chaotic start before a ball was even kicked. Kick-off was delayed by more than 45 minutes to allow the thousands of supporters still queuing outside the stadium to enter. There was further drama when Chiefs players walked off the pitch after a fight broke out in the stands, though the Pirates players continued their warm-up.
When the game eventually got underway, both teams went at each other at a frantic pace but clear goalscoring opportunities were hard to come by in the opening half. Oswin Appollis thought he had broken the deadlock in the 21st minute, only for referee Abongile Tom to disallow the effort for offside.
Pirates were then forced into a substitution in the 35th minute when Tshepang Moremi pulled up with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Patrick Maswanganyi.
Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen, who was later named Man of the Match, was not seriously tested until the 37th minute when he made a routine stop from an Appollis long-range effort. Five minutes later, Petersen produced a crucial double save, first parrying a Sebelebele shot and then denying Yanela Mbuthuma from the rebound to keep the scores level at the break.
Pirates came out with intent after half-time but it was Chiefs who struck first. Mmodi tapped home a perfectly weighted cross from Wandile Duba in the 62nd minute to give Amakhosi the lead.
The goal galvanised Pirates and they were rewarded when Sebelebele equalised in the 75th minute following a well-constructed move from the hosts. Pirates pushed for a winner in the closing stages but could not find a way through a stubborn Chiefs defence.
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