Kaizer Chiefs 0-0 Orlando Pirates (4-3 pens): Amakhosi crowned 2021 Carling Black Label Cup champions
The two Soweto giants could not be separated over 90 minutes with the high profile pre-season match ending in a draw
Kaizer Chiefs clinched the 2021 Carling Black Label Cup after defeating Orlando Pirates 4-3 on penalties following a 0-0 draw at Orlando Stadium on Sunday evening.
Brandon Petersen was the hero for Amakhosi on his unofficial debut for the club as the 26-year-old shot-stopper saved two penalties during the shootout following an action-packed Soweto Derby encounter.
Exciting youngsters Njabulo Blom, Sabelo Radebe, and Lebohang Lesako started in midfield for Chiefs as the Glamour Boys looked to clinch the Carling Black Label Cup for the fourth time.
The trio was up against Pirates’ experienced midfielders Ben Motshwari, Thabang Monare, and Fortune Makaringe with Bucs keen to avenge their 1-0 loss to Chiefs in a PSL match in March this year.
Chiefs were the better side in the opening exchanges with the likes of Happy Mashiane and Ramahlwe Mphahlele looking to deliver crosses into the opposition’s box for Samir Nurkovic.
However, Pirates vice-captain Thulani Hlatshwayo and his central defence partner Ntsikelelo Nyauza dealt well with aerial balls which were played in their area.
The first real goalscoring chance of the game fell for Wayde Jooste against the run of play, but the Pirates full-back’s shot-come-cross from inside the box was well-saved by goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune.
The chance sparked Bucs into life with Thembinkosi Lorch seeing a lot of the ball in Amakhosi’s half and he played a through pass for Makaringe, who hit the side-netting with Khune rooted to the ground.
Shortly after keeper Richard Ofori had gathered Mashiane’s curling attempt from a free-kick with ease, Pirates broke on the counter-attack with Deon Hotto setting up Lorch in the left flank.
Lorch quickly cut inside, before unleashing a scorching shot which was blocked by Khune, who then gathered a rebound shot from Makaringe on the stroke of half-time and the score was 0-0 at the interval.
The supporters decided on the first substitutions in the second-half with Chiefs introducing their new signing Kgaogelo Sekgota, while Siphesihle Ndlovu came on for Pirates.
Sekgota injected some pace into the Chiefs attack and he hit the upright with a well-taken free-kick, before forcing Ghana’s finest keeper Ofori into a good save at the near post.
Lorch continued to look the likeliest Pirates player to score as the 27-year-old attacker received a pass from Jooste, before pulling the trigger, but his deflected shot narrowly missed the target.
It was end-to-end stuff as Nyauza made a crucial challenge to block Cole Alexander’s goal-bound shot from close range and almost immediately at the other end, Khune pulled off a magnificent save to deny Lorch.
Chiefs were awarded a penalty after Nyauza was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box in the 74th minute and Ofori produced a fantastic save to deny Daniel Cardoso from the spot-kick.
The last chance of the game fell for last season’s DStv Diski Challenge Golden Boot winner Boitumelo Radiopane, but the Pirates youngster was well saved by new Chiefs signing Petersen at the near-post.
Ultimately, the match ended in a 0-0 draw and the ninth edition of the Carling Black Label Cup would be decided by a penalty shootout.
Chiefs went on to win 4-3 on penalties with Petersen, who had replaced Khune in the 74th minute, denying Pirates duo of Nyauza and Jooste from the spot-kick.
