Patrick Maswanganyi scored a late penalty to earn Orlando Pirates a 1-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs in their Betway Premiership match at the FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Maswanganyi found the back of the net in stoppage time of the match from a penalty kick which propelled the Buccaneers to claim Soweto Derby bragging rights.
The first Soweto Derby of the season launched February’s football activities in remarkable style as the two PSL heavyweights added another chapter to their rivalry.
Below are some of the talking points from this showdown.
NKOSINATHI SIBISI RETURNS TO ORLANDO PIRATES LINE-UP
The Buccaneers got a boost with defender Nkosinathi Sibisi returning to the starting line-up.
The defender missed last week’s game against Richards Bay FC in KZN due to a one-match suspension.
THE 57TH SOWETO DERBY LEAGUE MATCH BETWEEN KAIZER CHIEFS AND ORLANDO PIRATES
This afternoon’s matchup in the Soweto Derby marked the 57th league encounter between the Sea Robbers and Amakhosi during the PSL era.
In the 57 league matches, the Glamour Boys have claimed 18 victories, Pirates 15, while the remaining 24 encounters have ended in a tie.
In addition, February 1st will be the latest date in PSL history for the first leg of the Soweto Derby, surpassing the opening match from the 2020/21 season [30 Jan 2021].
ORLANDO PIRATES AND KAIZER CHIEFS STRUGGLED TO FIND THE BACK OF THE NET
The two teams struggled to be efficient in front of the goal as they had trouble penetrating each other’s defence.
The home team [Pirates] appeared to be the more dynamic side, posing a greater threat to the away team [Chiefs], hence Pirates were lucky to score in the dying minutes.
Chiefs needed a spark of brilliance to shake things up and take charge of the game, but it was not meant to be.
ORLANDO PIRATES AND KAIZER CHIEFS PLAYED IN A SOLD-OUT AFFAIR
The tickets for this mouthwatering showpiece between Pirates and Chiefs were officially sold out a week prior to the eagerly anticipated Soweto Derby today.
As usual, the fans’ plentiful cheers and noises in the stands enhanced the game’s enjoyment and excitement.
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