Soweto derby ends in draw

Soweto - Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates played to a dull 0-0 match in their top-of-the-table Absa Premiership match at the FNB Stadium in front a capacity crowd of nearly 90 000. The draw means that Pirates still trail Chefs by five points in the race for the league title. 

VIDEO: Kaizer Chiefs v Orlando Pirates highlights
 
The Buccaneers were dealt a huge early blow in the match when Thulasizwe Mbuyane had his contribution prematurely ended by a thigh injury. The utility forward had to be replaced by speedster Tlou Segolela in the 20th minute of the match.
 
Three minutes is what it took the winger to enforce himself into the match he went on a mazy run through the Chiefs defence which culminated in him releasing a low left footed effort which narrowly went past a diving Itumeleng Khune.
 
Chiefs were awarded a free kick from just outside the box in the 26th minute. Siphiwe Tshabalala’s curling left footed effort from that dead ball situation was parried away by Senzo Meyiwa in the Pirates goals.
 
The best chance in the first stanza had to be prolonged until the 38th minute of the match when Pirates winger Thabo Matlaba cracked a thunderous shot from 40-yards which beat a flying Khune but could only ruffle the roof of his net.
 
On the hour mark Chiefs were as close to as they had come in the match to opening the scoring.  Tshabalala was first denied by Meyiwa, having his curling left footed attempt from just inside the box spectacularly saved. The ball rebounded onto the path of Sthembiso Ngcobo, who cracked a shot that went agonisingly high of goal.
 
Chiefs nearly scored in the 87th minute when Willard Katsande got on the end of Tshabalala’s in-swinging corner kick but the Zimbabwean midfielder’s header could only find the outer roof of the net. A minute later Ngcobo then forced a good save from Meyiwa when he struck left footed shot from outside the net.
 
Teams:
 
Chiefs:

Khune, Gaxa (Dladla 87’), Mashamaite, Mathoho, Gould, Masilela, Katsande, Letsholonyane, Tshabalala, Nkhatha (Ngcobo 57’), Parker (Motaung 92’)
 
Pirates:

Meyiwa,Sangweni,Lekgwathi,Matlaba,Jele,Manyisa,Jali,Klate,Mbuyane (Segolela 21’),Mabena (Okonkwo 81’), Mbesuma (Chinyama 79’)