Pirates fight back to deny Chiefs

Orlando Pirates came from behind to snatch a 1-1 draw against Kaizer Chiefs in the 185th official edition of the Soweto Derby at FNB Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The result leaves Amakhosi in third place on the league standings as they chase a top-three finish and Caf inter-club competition qualification. The Glamour Boys will look to bounce back when they travel to face Siwelele FC on Wednesday.

The Buccaneers, meanwhile, remain top of the table, two points clear of second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, who have two games in hand. The Buccaneers will next face a tricky away trip to the Western Cape against Stellenbosch FC on 5 May.

Although Amakhosi started the match brightly, the Buccaneers absorbed the early pressure and created the better chances. In the 22nd minute, Brandon Petersen came off his line to brilliantly deny Yanela Mbuthuma from close range.

Determined to claim his 14th league clean sheet of the season, eventual Man of the Match Petersen produced a top-class save to keep out Kamogelo Sebelebele in the 42nd minute, ensuring the first half ended goalless.

After the break, Chiefs took control and broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute. Wandile Duba burst forward with electric pace and unselfishly set up Pule Mmodi, who calmly slotted home his first Soweto Derby goal to make it 1-0 to the visitors.

However, Pirates turned up the pressure on their arch-rivals and equalised with 15 minutes left as Kamogelo Sebelebele scored his fifth goal of the season from the rebound, after Petersen had parried a shot low down, and ultimately, the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Pirates 1 (Mmodi 62')

Chiefs 1 (Sebelebele 75')

Pirates: Chaine, Sebelebele, Seema, Sibisi, Hotto, Makhaula (Nemtajela 46'), Mbatha, Moremi (Maswanganyi 35'), Mofokeng, Appollis (Ndaba 85'), Mbuthuma (Makgopa 67').

Chiefs: Petersen, Cross, McCarthy, Msimango, Monyane, Mthethwa (Shabalala 46'), Maboe, Ndlovu (Cele 90'+2), Lilepo, Mmodi (Velebayi 90'+6), Duba (Da Silva 77').