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| Daine Klate |
Throughout the week these clubs have been preaching about playing with caution, but there was nothing cautious about Pirates’ early first half approach, launching attack after attack with Tlou Segolela, Sifiso Myeni and Lennox Bacela all making life difficult for the home side.
Pirates had Amakhosi on the back foot from the word go and the home side were punished for their vulnerability almost a quarter of an hour into the game when Klate sweetly curled a free-kick past an outstretched Itumeleng Khune.
Amakhosi were rattled by that early goal, making silly errors and tackles that led to bookings for two of their players – Willard Katsande and Siboniso Gaxa – in the first half.
The home side could not put a string of passes together nor get a decent shot on target.
They tried to play long balls at times to their ineffective strikers, Bernard Parker and Lehlohonolo Majoro, to get a feel of the ball, but Pirates’ central defence pairing of Rooi Mahamutsa and captain Lucky Lekgwathi easily dealt with whatever Amakhosi threw at them.
Aware that long balls are not working, Parker and Majoro tracked back into midfield as they attempted others ways to crack open the resolute Bucs defence.
That did not work and the only other option for Chiefs, it seemed, was to try their luck from range.
Defender Eric Mathoho was first to have a go at Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa minutes after Klate’s opener, as he tried to restore parity, however, his shot sailed harmlessly over the bar.
Wary that their opponents could be finding their rhythm, Pirates pushed forward when, from a poor Siphiwe Tshabalala corner, flying winger Tlou Segolela went on the counter.
He had Bacela wide open to his right, but he chose to go on his own only to find Mathoho equal to the task of closing him down.
Let off the hook, Chiefs did not do much to improve on their lacklustre performance, giving away possession cheaply in crucial areas of the pitch.
It nearly cost them dearly when Tshabalala’s wayward pass in the middle of the park fell to the feet of Myeni, who failed to make most of the gift he had been presented with.
Amakhosi looked for that equaliser before the break, to no avail. Mathoho’s close range was easily saved by Meyiwa. On the stroke of half-time, Gaxa’s cross-cum-shot almost led to a Mahamutsa own goal.
Pirates held on to the lead going into the break, but when Chiefs brought on striker Knowledge Musona at the start of the second half for Majoro, the balance of power shifted somewhat.
The Zimbabwean immediately got involved, showing that he would be a major threat when he got the first shot of the second stanza towards goal, but he had already been adjudged to have illegally handled the ball.
Musona’s presence seemed to give Chiefs fans renewed hope of getting back into the game.
The Buccaneers were starting to look uncomfortable for the first time in the match with Musona on the pitch.
Chiefs had their moments to pull one back, though.
George Lebese hit the upright midway through the second half, then Tshabalala had his effort saved by Meyiwa with 20 minutes to go as Pirates, who gave Thamsanqa Gabuza his debut, held on for the victory.
Source : iol.co.za
Tags : cup, pirates vs chiefs, daine klate, mtn 8 semi final,