Referee Daniel Bennett spoiled what could have been an enthralling derby between life-long Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Pirates beat Chiefs 2-1.
The school teacher’s inconsistency and his dubious decisions prompted thousands of fans from both clubs to throw missiles.
It was undoubtedly a very bad advert for South African football.
The extent of the problem was witnessed in the 80th minute.
Benedict Vilakazi faked injury from a tussle for the ball with Chiefs’ defender Cyril Nzama.
Vilakazi dived and Bennett fell for it, but Bennett did not book Nzama. He instead had a pep talk with the Chiefs strongman.
Vilakazi, who was never injured, ran inside the pitch before being helped by paramedics, and his stance infuriated thousands of Chiefs fans. They threw missiles on to the pitch.
Pirates’ followers joined in the fray and pelted Chiefs’ fans with every type of missile on which they could lay their hands. Order was restored and the game continued. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported.
Vilakazi headed Pirates’ second goal in the 86th minute. Jimmy Tau was the provider. That was the winning goal that saw Pirates beat Chiefs 2-1 in their otherwise impressive Premier Soccer League (PSL) match.
Bennett turned a blind eye to what looked like a deserved penalty for Chiefs. He waved on play. Chiefs tried hard to get the all-important equaliser, but Pirates’ rear guard was equal to the task.
The Buccaneers retained their unblemished record of five wins and four draws, while AmaKhosi suffered their first defeat from five PSL games.
Pirates, the hosts, led as early as the first minute via the chest of Gift Leremi. He converted a cross from Phumdzo Manenzhe, scoring the quickest goal in the 2004/05 PSL season.
It was Leremi’s fifth goal and he joined teammate Tyren Arendse, Black Leopards’ Mulondo Sikhwivhilu and Chiefs striker Collins Mbesuma, who are all top goal scorers.
A lapse of concentration by Pirates’ defenders in the second half saw galloping Chiefs winger Arthur Zwane level matters in the 51st minute.
Mbesuma, who was expected to hold the key for Chiefs, was tightly marked by Tonic Chabalala, who stuck to the free-scoring Zambian like glue.
But Mbesuma came close in the 58th minute. His good strike was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Francis Chansa. The Pirates defender was cautioned a minute later for an infringement on Zwane.
Bennett was pelted with missiles in the 74th minute for his dubious decision after a tussle for the ball between Chabalala and Mbesuma.
It was after that incident that Nzama’s aggression towards Vilakazi almost saw the premature end of the game as fans from both sides used the pitch as the battle field.
Chiefs had the upper hand in the first half but just could not convert their superior number of chances.
Siphiwe Mkhonza’s lunging tackle on Arendse earned him a yellow card.
Tau cleared a goal-bound attempt in the 21st minute when goalkeeper Chansa was in no-man’s-land.
Chiefs, who were in full cry searching for the equaliser, attacked in much bigger numbers, forcing Pirates’ defenders to retreat.
Scara Ngobese’s attempt was deflected for Chiefs’ third corner in the 26th minute. Chabalala was penalised for a foul just on the edge of the box and Moshoeu’s shot was missed by teammates Ngobese and Zwane, who were too hesitant to pounce on the ball.
Pirates almost increased their tally from the counter-attack. Leremi called on Chiefs sticksman Rowen Fernadez to produce a daring diving save in the 29th minute.
Papi Khomane and Moshoeu were involved in what looked like fisticuffs but Bennett booked Khomane — much to the disapproval of his fans, who threw missiles on the pitch in the 32nd minute.
Chiefs defender Fabian McCarthy was cautioned for a dangerous tackle on Vilakazi in the 38th minute.
Chiefs forced even more corner kicks towards the end of the impressive first half but failed to convert.
The 80 000-capacity stadium was jam-packed. In fact, the venue was half full as early as 2pm for the 3.45pm kick-off. Loyal Chiefs fans occupied most of the seats.
Pirates’ victory came at the perfect moment as coach Kostadin Papic celebrated his 22nd wedding anniversary, which coincided with Chiefs MD Kaizer Motaung’s belated birthday celebrations.
He turned 60 last Saturday. But he received the most uninspiring present from his club when they drew 2-2 with Bush Bucks at the same venue last weekend.
Motaung, the former Pirates player, was on Saturday presented with a framed number-60 Pirates jersey. — Sapa