Chiefs, Pirates renew Soweto derby rivalry

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Feb 08, 2019. 11:00

Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates will renew their Soweto derby rivalry in the Absa Premiership when they meet at FNB Stadium on 9 February 2019, kick-off at 15h30.

Chiefs suffered their sixth defeat of the season when they went down 1-0 at home to Cape Town City on January 30. The gold and black-clad team had won away to both Bidvest Wits and AmaZulu before their most recent loss.

The Amakhosi have claimed just 11 points from nine home matches this season. Their last two games as hosts have both ended in defeats.

Pirates extended their unbeaten run in the league to 14 matches with a 1-1 draw at home to Baroka FC on January 22, but they missed out on the chance to go level at the top of the log with Bidvest Wits at the time.

The Buccaneers have claimed 18 points from nine away matches this season, with their latest result on the road a 2-2 draw at Highlands Park in early January.

In head-to-head stats, Chiefs and Pirates have met in 66 league matches since 1985. The Amakhosi have claimed 24 wins compared to 15 for the Buccaneers, while no less than 27 encounters have ended in draws. The team in gold and black have won 13 of their 31 home matches in the rivalry, suffering six defeats in the process.

When the teams met earlier this season, at FNB Stadium in late October 2018, Pirates claimed a 2-1 home win thanks to goals from Innocent Maela and Vincent Pule. The Buccaneers are unbeaten in the last eight league matches against their Soweto derby rivals.

Chiefs’ line-up from their 1-0 loss to City on January 30: Vries, Moleko (Ngezana 45’), Hadebe, Cardoso, Ntiya-Ntiya, Katsande, Mashiane (Moon 81’), Ekstein, Ntshangase, Parker (Castro 46’), Billiat.

Pirates’ line-up from their 1-1 draw with Baroka on January 22: Mabokgwane, Dube (Gabuza 60’), Jele (Mahachi 76’), Ndengane, Mako, Motshwari (Lorch 46’), Munetsi, Mntambo, Pule, Shonga, Mulenga.