Kaizer Chiefs exacted revenge on Orlando Pirates for last week’s loss in the MTN8 finals, as they defeated the Buccaneers 2-1 in an Absa Premiership clash at the FNB Sadium at the Soccer City complex in Johannesburg.

Bernard Parker put the Amakhosi ahead mid-way through the first half with a spectacular free kick to give Chiefs the lead scoring his first league goal of the campaign, in first half time injury time Siphiwe Tshabalala scored a second for Chiefs.

Pirates found consolation deep in extra time at the end of the game with Happy Jelel scoring a well taken over head volley, it was not enough to deny Chiefs from taking the three points.

Chiefs looked far from a team who had lost their last two games, Luck Baloyi demonstrating Chiefs attacking intentions in the games as early as the 9th minute as he surged up field, before releasing a shot from around twenty yard out which had Josephs diving to block.

Pirates tried to bottle up the Chiefs attack by installing a very strong defensive line, the Amakhosi were playing a patient game waiting for Pirates to give them the opportunity to score.

On 27 minutes Andile Jali pulled down Tshabalala and Chiefs were awarded a free kick on the left edge of the Pirates 18 yard area, Parker took the responsibility and duly dispatched the ball delightfully over the Pirates defensive wall and sneaked between the keeper Moeneeb Josephs and the post to give Chiefs the lead.

While Pirates kept a lot of the possession in the early parts of the game they were being kept at bay by Chiefs as the half wore won and two minutes into second half stoppage time the Amakhosi doubled their lead.

Good work by Lehlohonolo Majoro who dispossessed Jali of the ball on the right before squaring it off to Dladla who in turn played it to his left , where Tshabalala was able to from eight yards away from goal side foot past Josephs and into the net to put Chiefs 2-0 ahead.

Eight minutes after the restart some good build up work saw Majoro find himself in acres of space on the right side of the Pirates 18 yard area, he was unable to control his effort and sliced the ball wide.

Just past the hour mark and some good build up play again saw Majoro in the clear, he was put goal side by a lob over the Pirates back line. As he approached the goal, Josephs tried to narrow the angle for him, he slightly put the Chiefs striker off as Majoro sent his shot into the side netting.

In the final twenty minutes Pirates began pressing for a winner, it took a well -timed tackle inside his own penalty area by Zhaimu Jambo to stop Rudolph Bester from getting in on goal, in the 74th minute it took a diving Itumeleng Khune to keep out a close range strike from Oupa Manyisa.

Pirates managed to score a goal when Jele turned home Dikgang Mabalane’s free kick to put Pirates on the score borad, it was not enough to prevent the Amakhosi from recording their first home league win over Pirates in more than three years.

With the win Chiefs went top of the Absa Premiership standings.

Line Up’s:

Chiefs: 32. Khune, 2. Tau, 3. Sweswe. 29. Jambo, 5. Isaacs, 35. Baloyi ( 31. Katsande 29’), 6. Letsholonyane, 9. Dladla, 14. Tshabalala, 20. Majoro (23, Ngcobo 68’), 25. Parker (11. Nale 84’)

Cautions: 6. Reneilwe Letsholonyane 17’

Coach: Vladimir Vermezovic

Assistant Coach: Donald ‘Ace’ Khuse

Assistant Coach: Arthur Zwane

Goalkeeper Coach: Rainer Dinkelacker

16. Josephs, 4. Jele, 14. Lekgwathi, 21. Sangweni, 38. Cloete, 23. Segolela (5. Mabalane 70’), 20. Manyisa, 15. Jali, 7. Klate ( 25. Bester 61’), 26. Mabena (6. Ngobeni 46’), 9. Ndlulula

Cautions: 23. Tlou Segolela 41’, 9. Ndlulula 60’, 4. Happy Jele 90’

Coach: Julio Leal