Soweto derby: five talking points

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - MARCH 09, Senzo Meyiwa of Pirates pulls off a save during the Absa Premiership match between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates from FNB Stadium on March 09, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa Photo by Duif du Toit / Gallo Images

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - MARCH 09, Senzo Meyiwa of Pirates pulls off a save during the Absa Premiership match between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates from FNB Stadium on March 09, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa Photo by Duif du Toit / Gallo Images

Published Mar 11, 2013

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Did Lwandile Mfiki bottle the game’s biggest decision?

With 15 minutes to go at FNB Stadium, Tlou Segolela went down under the challenge of Siphiwe Tshablala inside the Chiefs penalty area. It looked a stonewall penalty, and replays proved as much, but Mfiki chose to book Segolela for diving. It was the wrong decision, and one can’t help but feel it was also the easier one for Mfiki to make, with this Soweto derby right in the balance. It is so easy to criticise referees, and Mfiki did not have a bad game overall but, time and time again, South African referees are erring in a game’s most crucial moments. It is simply not good enough.

Pirates do need Benni McCarthy

The absurd Benni McCarthy publicity stunt, when he declared himself fit ahead of the Soweto derby on the club’s official website, was a piece of farce that should really have no place in the ranks of the Buccaneers, whoever was responsible. And yet there is no doubt that Pirates are missing McCarthy’s touch and eye for goal in attack. Collins Mbesuma is increasingly looking well past his best, while Takesure Chinyama, even if he can wallop in four against a side from the Comoros, hardly looks the answer in the Absa Premiership. McCarthy should be back for Pirates in the next couple of weeks, and it will be interesting to see what form he is in. At 35, however, he can also only be a temporary solution, with Irvin Khoza needing to go back to his chequebook in the off-season.

Sthembiso Ngcobo still has a place at Kaizer Chiefs

Chiefs’ prolific strike force was much talked about before the Soweto derby, but it is unlikely too many mentioned Sthembiso Ngcobo in that discussion. Amakhosi coach Stuart Baxter had said before the game that there was still a place for the likes of Ngcobo at Chiefs, and he proved as much on Saturday, re-energising the Amakhosi in the second half. Ngcobo has not scored for Chiefs this season, but cut through the Pirates defence like no one else in the Amakhosi ranks and, but for Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, might have found the winner at the death. As Kaizer Motaung Jnr proved in midweek against Chippa United, and as Baxter has noted, the Chiefs squad does have plenty of depth this season.

Senzo Meyiwa is the real deal

Meyiwa was back under the microscope after a difficult few games for Pirates, where their whole defence was taken to pieces by both Maluti FET College in the Nedbank Cup and Moroka Swallows in the Absa Premiership. Even in midweek against Bloemfontein Celtic, there was a comedy of errors at the back for Phunya Sele Sele’s late equaliser. Meyiwa, however, was back to his inspired best against Chiefs, pulling off brilliant saves to deny both Tshablala and Ngcobo. Pirates fans must have their heart in their mouths every time Meyiwa flies off his line to intercept attacks, but on this occasion, everything he tried came off. Meyiwa was also helped, it must be said, by the return to the side of Siya Sangweni, bar one early incident, where each left the ball to the other to clear inside the Pirates area, almost resulting in a horrible mix-up.

Chiefs 5-3-2 is still a work in progress

Baxter reverted to a 5-3-2 against Pirates, playing Morgan Gould, Tefu Mashamaite and Eric Matoho from the start as he had done against Wits in league and cup in recent weeks. It worked very well in the 3-0 cup win over Wits, but the last two attempts have been less successful. Against Wits in the league, Baxter reverted to 4-4-2 at halftime, and if he kept the 5-3-2 throughout the derby, it certainly wasn’t a raging success. At times, Tsepo Masilela and especially Siboniso Gaxa got forward well to support attacks, but at other times Chiefs looked more than a little lost positionally, misplacing a hideous amount of passes. Pirates also gave an error-strewn performance in what was not the greatest advert for the league in a game broadcast across the globe – though there were clear improvements in the second half. – The Star

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