Mathoho stars as Chiefs outwit Pirates

File Photo: Ryan Wilkisky

File Photo: Ryan Wilkisky

Published Jul 30, 2016

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It took them nearly an hour, but Kaizer Chiefs eventually made their dominance count to outlast Orlando Pirates 2-0 at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.

The Amakhosi led the possession statistics for most of the opening 60 minutes of the Carling Champion Cup, but battled to convert their chances into goals. But a moment of inspiration from former Bafana Bafana striker Bernard Parker was the catalyst in setting up Erick “Tower” Mathoho’s winner.

Parker coolly evaded the Pirates’ defence, and having virtually gone to ground, he got up in time to rifle a thunderous shot towards goal. Goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo did brilliantly to get a slight touch to the ball to manoeuvre it on to the crossbar, but central defender Mathoho, of all people, was on hand to bury the rebound.

It sent the Chiefs fans in the magnificent crowd of 86 450 into delirium, as they would’ve wondered if this was one of those days where they would receive a sucker punch from the Buccaneers late in the game.

Instead, Steve Komphela’s team went into overdrive afterwards, with the likes of impressive right back Kgosi Moleko, left back Tsepo Masilela and Parker again all nearly scored within four minutes of each other.

In between, Pirates left back Thabo Matlaba banged in a shot, but Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune made a good save to his left to maintain his team’s lead.

Chiefs had the upper hand for the last quarter as well, but there were two great chances for Muhsin Ertugal’s side. Matlaba delivered a perfect ball along the ground that evaded the defence and fell to Tendai Ndoro, but the Pirates hitman scuffed his shot and couldn’t beat the agile Khune.

Then with 10 minutes to go, Khune and Mathoho showed their absolute class to keep the Pirates at bay – first Khune stretched to block Riyaad Norodien’s cross-cum-shot from the right, and then Mathoho cleared Bernard Morrison’s follow-up off the line.

But in the fifth minute of injury time, Chiefs finished things off in style as an inch-perfect ball was whipped in from the right by William Twala, and new Zambian striker Lewis Macha slotted home to secure victory for the Amakhosi.

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