Kaizer Chiefs sounded a warning to other ambitious Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs at the Erpu Stadium on Thursday night where they took apart their arch-rivals Orlando Pirates 2-0 in the third match in the Vodacom Challenge series.
Amakhosi, who more than deserved this Soweto Derby triumph, will meet English and European champions Manchester United in the sold-out final at Loftus on Saturday. Kick-off is at 3.30pm.
Once again Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral got his tactics right by only making one change from the side who drew 1-1 in the opening Challenge game against United played at Newlands, Cape Town, last Saturday.
But new Bucs coach Rudi Krol has much to learn about South African soccer and the Soweto Derby in particular. Once again his plan backfired spectacularly when he fielded a completely new side from the team who lost 1-0 to United in Durban on Tuesday night.
Krol, a former Dutch great, will be getting the message that losing two matches on the trot, even if it is pre-season, will not go down well with Bucs fans or management.
He thought he was doing the right thing in fielding a reserve team against United rated not just as the best in Europe but also in the world today. The first team he put out on Thursday failed to spark and showed Pirates are a long way from regaining their glory days. Still, it is early days.
Ertugral, on the other hand, is on track. He has shown that patience was all that was needed, and Amakhosi are set for a bumper season starting next month. Chiefs gave United a hard time at Newlands and the sell-out crowd are heading for a juicy clash at Loftus Versfeld.
It was a dream Derby debut for Amakhosi striker Jose Torrealba. After making his debut for his new club in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United in the opening Challenge game last Saturday, the Venezuelan international struck gold in the 14th minute.
Pirates had been on top from the kick-off but the match swung when Bucs defender Innocent Mdledle did not live up to his name and gave away a free kick on the edge of his penalty area when he hacked down Gert Schalkwyk.
Siphiwe Tshabalala floated over an inch-perfect cross that had the Pirates defence fooled. Torrealba could not believe his luck when he had a free header and powered home the ball past a helpless Moeneeb Josephs, who was making his Bucs debut in goal.
The Pirates defensive marking left much to be desired. They also carelessly gave away far too much possession in midfield with sloppy passes that went astray in this first period.
Torrealba nearly doubled Chiefs’ lead in the 20th minute but he just failed to connect David Mathebula’s corner.
Five minutes later, with their tails in the air, Amakhosi central defender Jonathan Quartey found himself in front of Bucs goal but his volley flew over the upright.
Josephs, who was signed from BidVest Wits in the off-season, pulled off his first save for his new club with a stunning stop from a Schalkwyk rocket 10 minutes from half-time.
Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune had to make his first serious save of the night in the 40th minute when he denied Bucs’ Malawian international midfielder an equaliser with a superb block of his 20m bullet.
Khune did well on the stroke of half-time to pouch a Teko Modise free kick.
Bucs finished the half stronger but failed to get that all-important breakthrough.
Khune made another fairly routine save from another Modise free kick from the edge of the penalty area on 51 minutes.
Two minutes later it was Josephs’s turn to fist away substitute Kaizer Motaung Jnr’s goal-bound shot. But Motaung made sure to put Amakhosi 2-0 ahead when he headed home Tshabalala’s resultant corner to make it 2-0 and slowly take the game from the out-of-sorts Buccaneers.
To their credit, Bucs refused to lie down. It took a brilliant double save from by Khune from Kamwendo to deny them a goal in the 73rd minute. Khune superbly fisted the Malawian star’s 20m free kick, then quick Kamwendo raced for the rebound only for the agile and wide-awake Khune to deny him a second time, once again underlining this 21-year-old keeper’s incredible potential.
But Chiefs weathered the storm to run out winners to the delight of the fans in the 20 000-plus crowd.
After the match, Ertugral fired a broadside at Orlando Pirates and Seychelles referee Eddy Maillett for a number of crunching tackles that went unpunished during the match.
Ertugral pulled no punches at the media briefing at which Krol sat next to him.
Stormed an angry Ertugral: ”I could not believe my eyes when the second half started and my players [got] kicked all over the pitch for the opening 20 minutes. It was disgraceful and embarrassing. This type of behaviour from Pirates is not acceptable. Tackling like that has nothing to do with football.”
Krol ignored Ertugral’s outburst. The two coaches did shake hands after the conference but the battle lines for the season have been drawn.
He admitted his side were not organised but fell back on the tried-and-trusted excuse that he has not had enough time with his players to mould them into a half-decent team.
”We have been together for only 12 days and have another three weeks to prepare for the start of the PSL season. So I am not worried. We will be in good shape when the proper PSL action starts.” — Sapa