Pro Philani looks back at the weekend’s football action which saw Chiefs claim Derby bragging rights, Folz grab his first win in Mzansi and more from the DStv Premiership.
The Soweto derby #176 lit up the packed-out FNB Stadium in Soweto. Kaizer Chiefs claimed all three points to make it four successive Derby wins for the Glamour Boys against their rivals, Orlando Pirates. Both set of fans were looking forward to the first derby between Arthur Zwane and Jose Riveiro.
Pirates came into this match on a back foot having lost midfield maestro, Miguel Timm through suspension. The task of controlling the midfield was left in the hands of Goodman Mosele, but the Bafana international was dominated by a double 6 of Yusuf Maart and Njabulo Blom.
Chiefs won both the midfield and tactical battles. The decision to bench Kgaugelo Sekgota could have surprised Pirates, who were not expecting Ashley Du Preez to come at them guns blazing on the left-hand side.
Du Preez had a first half to forget after missing two 1v1 against the keeper, Siyabonga Mpontshane. The two chances were the best of first half.
Pirates were dealt a huge blow when defender and captain Innocent Maela suffered an early injury which forced Riveiro to make an early substitution. Maela’s injury looked like a hamstring problem and forced the introduction of Paseko Mako early on in the first half.
Pirates made changes in the second half. First, it was a double change of Makaringe and Dlamini, for Lepasa and Hotto, then later Motshwari for Goodman Mosele but these yielded no positive result.
Instead, it would be Chiefs who seized the initiative just minutes later. Yusuf Maart picked the ball up in his own half and launched an audacious attempt from all of 55 yards out. The attempt caught Mpotshane cold as it sailed over his head and into his goal.
Interestingly, Pirates are still without a goal in the second half in all DStv Premiership matches this season. Both Saleng and Erasmus were closely monitored and weren’t able to dominate as they did in the second leg semi-final of the MTN8.
After the goal, both teams huffed and puffed hoping to catch each other on the break, but Chiefs hung on until the end. This victory took some of the pressure off coach Arthur Zwane as some sections of the fans were calling for his head after the cup exit.
This Derby win moved Chiefs to third on the log, 7 points behind the champions Sundowns.
⚽️ 𝐆𝐎𝐀𝐋 ⚽️
— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) October 29, 2022
Siyabonga Mpontshane was caught off his line by Yusuf Maart!
☠️ Orland Pirates 🆚 Kaizer Chiefs ✌️
📺 SABC 1
📻 SABC Radio Stations#SABCSportFootball #SowetoDerby pic.twitter.com/Bgf5IUcvm4
Royal AM humbled by resurgent Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns defeated Royal AM 3-0 at the Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday evening. Sundowns had earlier in the week defeated Maritzburg United 5-0 before they were welcomed by AM in Chatsworth. The two results come off the back of their 3-0 MTN8 semi-final defeat at the hands of Pirates.
Goals from Neo Maema, Cassius Mailula and Surprise Ralani were enough to put a smile on Rulani Mokwena’s face. Eight goals and six points without conceding as the reigning champions consolidate their place at the top of the log.
AM had better chances in the first half, but poor finishing from Levin Stoffels and clearance off the line by Grant Kekana ensured Sundowns survived these early scares. Five minutes before the end of the first half Mailula dribbled past two defenders before setting up unmarked Maema in the far post and the midfielder made no mistake to make it 1-0.
AM piled the pressure on Sundowns in the second half but were unable to get past Ronwen Williams who was well protected by Sundowns’ stubborn defence.
It was against the run of play when Sundowns midfielder Thapelo Morena intercepted the ball in the AM half and was given space to run into box. His shot was deflected into Mailula who made no mistake to make it 2-0.
Substitute Gaston Sirino made a run this time on the right in the 90th minute to set up fellow substitute, Ralani inside the box who made no mistake to make it 3-0.
The loss pushed AM off the top eight with the KZN outfit looking toward their CAFCC campaign to get back to winning ways.
That's a wrap eThekwini! 3️⃣ goals earn us 3️⃣ points as we head into the break! 👆
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) October 29, 2022
Royal AM 0️⃣➖3️⃣ Mamelodi Sundowns (45' Maema, 85' Mailula, 88' Ralani)#Sundowns #DownsLive #DStvPrem pic.twitter.com/TFPkHWquMN
Folz finally wins, Richards Bay draw with Chippa and pressure building on Maduka
Richards Bay surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 in Braamfontein against Chippa United. Despite being the best performing side away from home, having collected 14 points away from home, Richards Bay would be disappointed to have drawn a match where at one stage they opened a healthy lead. The draw keeps the newly promoted side in the top three before going to a FIFA break, a remarkable achievement for a newly promoted side.
AmaZulu finally returned to winning ways after securing a 1-0 home win against Stellenbosch FC at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The new Zulu King’s coronation seemed to have inspired Romain Folz’ to finally get his first win following a series of draws since joining Usuthu. New signing Rally Bwalya scored the only goal of the match to help AmaZulu move back to the top 8 before the MTN8 final at the Moses Mabhida stadium on the 5th of November.
It was a week to forget for John Maduka as his Maritzburg United side were defeated 2-0 at home by Golden Arrows. The defeat pushed United to the bottom of the log. Two first-half goals by striker Ryan Moon were enough to give the only surviving co-coaching duo points and a place in the top eight going to the FIFA break.
Romain Folz gets his first win as a coach in South Africa as AmaZulu defeat Stellenbosch courtesy of this wonderful goal from Rally Bwalya ✅ pic.twitter.com/KQkl6LpIic
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 30, 2022
