Kaizer Chiefs scored one of their biggest wins in the history of the club at the Moses Mabhida on Saturday afternoon. Their 2-1 victory over arch-rivals Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final ended Amakhosi’s 10-year trophy drought.
It was also sweet revenge for Amakhosi after the Buccaneers defeated them by the same scoreline in a league match last Saturday at FNB Stadium.
Chiefs last lifted a trophy when they won the league in 2015 and their fans and the club had become a laughingstock in the Premier Soccer League. The former cup kings are back on track and this is thanks to coach Nasreddine Nabi who steered Chiefs to victory after many coaches had failed.
The celebrations were ecstatic, the relief was palpable, and the partying will go throughout the night and into the early morning. When the referee blew the final whistle, the stadium was electrified with wild celebrations. Some of the fans had tears of joy streaming down their cheeks. It was just not a mere victory over perennial enemies, it was a victory for the long-suffering fans.
Chiefs started the match as underdogs, with Pirates on a high after winning the derby last week and also registering a 2-1 victory over Golden Arrows midweek. The Pirates players underestimated Amakhosi’s prowess, and the Chiefs captain Yusuf Maart gave them a sucker punch with a late winning goal.
This is after Gaston Sirino had given them the lead with a well-taken penalty kick as early as the seventh minute. Pirates equalised via Evidence Makgopa, who nodded home a delicious free kick from Deon Hotto on the left, also in the first stanza.
The match was evenly balanced, and action swung from one end to the other. But Chiefs made brilliant substitutions when they brought on Mdu Shabalala and Ashley du Preez. The move inspired Chiefs, and the duo created scoring opportunities for their teammates.
On one occasion, Pule Mmodi received the ball from Du Preez, and his shot crashed against the upright. Chiefs were all over Pirates like a bad rash, and it was no mistake that Maart gave them the lead with a half volley with 10 minutes remaining, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
As the clock ticked, Pirates threw everything forward and had Chiefs defending for their lives. But the Chiefs rear-guard held on and did not crack under the pressure.
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