Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates played to a 0-0 draw in the Soweto Derby at the FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon, writes MARSHALL GOUTS.
Chiefs went into the encounter on the back of a morale-boosting 2-1 victory against Mamelodi Sundowns in their previous fixture. Steve Komphela named an unchanged squad to the team that defeated Masandawana.
Pirates were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Platinum Stars in their previous encounter, and Milutin Sredojevic made three changes to his team, with Justice Chabalala, Thabo Rakhale, Issa Sarr, Thabiso Kutumela handed starting berths.
The visitors got off to a brighter start of the two teams as Itumeleng Khune was forced into making an early save from a good long-range effort by Thabo Qalinge.
Chiefs were content to let Pirates enjoy the majority of the possession and looked to play on the counter-attack. Komphela’s side had their first sniff of goal in the tenth minute when a turn of possession saw Siphiwe Tshabalala’s defence-splitting pass almost find Bernard Parker in the area, but goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands anticipated the move and did well to thwart the effort.
For all their possession, Pirates never really bothered Chiefs in the final third, and the home side continued to clear their lines with ease.
Chiefs came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock in the 28th minute when Siyabonga Ngezana got on to the end of George Maluleka’s free kick, but his header hit the post, with Sandilands well-beaten.
Qalinge looked to be Pirates’ go-to-guy and the winger was in the mood, with his confidence, pace and trickery proving a nuisance for Chiefs’ defence.
Thabo Rakhale saw his 40th minute effort go straight into the hands of Khune after a good attacking spell of play by the visitors.
Pirates almost took the lead moments before the half-time break, but Qalinge’s fine effort from a corner kick was parried away by Khune. Makola was gifted a chance at goal after being given acres of space, but the midfielder blasted his effort into the side netting.
The second half continued in similar vein to the first, with Chiefs absorbing the Pirates attacks. The home side came close to opening the scoring in the 52nd minute when Philani Zulu’s ball into the area was met by Parker, but his goal-bound header was turned away for a corner.
Pirates were awarded the best chance of the game in the 54th minute when Makola’s defence-splitting pass was met by a superb acrobatic kick from Qalinge, but the winger’s effort crashed against the crossbar.
Both sides opted for changes as Gustavo Paez replaced Hendrik Ekstein for Chiefs and Bernard Morrison replaced Kutumela.
A frantic period of football ensued with both Chiefs and Pirates being gifted with opportunities in quick succession, but alert goalkeeping by Khune and Sandilands ensured that the scorelines remained goalless.
The visitors signalled their intent to attack as Thamsanqa Gabuza came on to replace Rakhale in the 63rd minute, and the striker almost immediately made an impact as he got on to the end of Innocent Maela’s ball into the area, but his header flew over the crossbar.
Sandilands produced a fine save to keep out Willard Katsande’s goal-bound header in the 71st minute. Pirates thought they had broken the deadlock two minutes later when Morrison turned in Makola’s cross into the area, but the referee correctly adjudged him to have handled the ball.
With fifteen minutes left in the encounter, Wiseman Meyiwa replaced Ngezana as Chiefs looked to grab a late winner, but it was Pirates who continued to surge forward as Qalinge’s fine low strike was stopped by Khune in the 77th minute.
Cardoso could have been the hero in the 79th minute when he latched on to the end of Maluleka’s whipped cross, but the defender blazed his chance over the crossbar.
Thembinkosi Lorch replaced the lively Qalinge in the 80th minute, while Ryan Moon was thrown on late in place of Parker. However, neither side was able to break the deadlock in the remaining minutes of the clash as the two sides were forced to settle for a point apiece.
In the other PSL encounter:
Golden Arrows continued their unbeaten streak in the Absa Premiership when a late strike by Thomas Chideu gave them a point as they played to a 2-2 draw at the Princess Magogo Stadium.
Photo: Muzi Ntombela/Backpagepix
