Pirates hit back to defeat Chiefs in Soweto derby
Orlando Pirates scored twice in three minutes during the first half to beat arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 Saturday in a Soweto derby watched by a sell-out 90,000 crowd.
An Innocent Maela header and a Vincent Pule tap-in turned the tide in the much anticipated South African Premiership showdown after Zimbabwean Khama Billiat had scored first.
Victory kept the Buccaneers second, one point behind leaders Wits, while the Amakhosi (Chiefs) slipped two places to fifth a third of the way through the league season.
Success confirmed the stranglehold Pirates have had over 48-year rivals Chiefs in recent Premiership seasons, winning three and drawing five of the last eight meetings.
Fears that one of the five most high-profile club derbies in Africa might descend into a cagey stalemate were soon dispelled as Billiat struck.
The goal on 15 minutes came gift-wrapped from Pirates goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane, who fumbled a cross allowing the Zimbabwe star to score at Soccer City stadium.
Pirates wasted a great chance to equalise after 27 minutes when Zambian Justin Shonga had a penalty parried by veteran Itumeleng Khune.
But just two minutes later the former African champions were level as Maela powerfully headed a corner beyond the reach of Khune.
Within three minutes Pirates were ahead as Shonga crossed for Pule to push the ball into an unguarded net from close range.
Both sides had second-half scoring chances with Pirates captain Happy Jele courageously blocking a Billiat attempt and Shonga blazing over.
Unglamorous Polokwane City and 2016 CAF Champions League winners Mamelodi Sundowns rose above Chiefs with solitary-goal victories at opposite ends of South Africa.
A City side coached by Slovak Jozef Vukusic overcame lowly Maritzburg United 1-0 in northern city Polokwane thanks to an Edgar Manaka goal just past the hour mark.
Star-less Polokwane lie third, three points behind Wits with a game in hand, thanks to four victories and two draws from their last six Premiership outings.
Uruguayan Gaston Sirino scored his second match-winner within eight days as Sundowns won 1-0 away to Chippa United near Indian Ocean town East London before a capacity 15,000 crowd.
The diminutive South American swivelled to fire past Nigerian goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi from outside the box after a dummy outfoxed Chippa.
Cape Town City avenged a League Cup defeat at AmaZulu four days ago with a 3-0 home victory through goals from Taariq Fielies, Siphelele Mthembu and Thabo Nodada.
Success was particularly sweet for Cape Town coach Benni McCarthy as his side had not won in seven league matches since a season-opening victory two months ago.
On Friday, Wits edged Highlands Park 1-0 in Johannesburg through a goal from captain and South Africa defender Thulani Hlatshwayo.