Thierry Henry sees Pirates beat Chiefs in Soweto derby

Orlando Pirates beat Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in front of a capacity 90,000 crowd, with Tshepang Moremi scoring the decisive goal in the second half.

Tshepang Moremi scored after 55 minutes to give Orlando Pirates 2-1 victory over Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday in a South African Premiership match watched by a capacity 90,000 crowd.

Victory kept Pirates second after nine rounds, one point behind Mamelodi Sundowns, who have played an additional match.

French legend Thierry Henry was a special guest for the Soweto derby between the two most popular clubs in the country.

Henry delivered the match ball, received sustained applause, and posed with the captains, Pirates centre-back Nkosinathi Sibisi and Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen.

Chiefs, three places behind Pirates in fifth, were the superior side in the opening half and the 1-1 half-time scoreline flattered Pirates.

Pirates led after 24 minutes when Thabo Moloisane deflected a Yanela Mbuthuma shot across Petersen and into the far corner of the net.

Chiefs levelled six minutes later as Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine spilled a cross and Pule Mmodi tapped the loose ball over the goalline.

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Much improved in the second half after personnel and tactical changes, Pirates regained the lead when Moremi side-footed a Thapelo Mokobodi cross into the net.

South African international Moremi could have claimed a hat-trick. In the closing stages his chip rebounded off the crossbar, then he fired wide when a goal seemed inevitable.

Chiefs were reduced to 10 men in added time when Angolan centre-back Inacio Miguel was sent off after being yellow-carded twice.

"We were efficient, resilient and ruthless," said Pirates Moroccan coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, a former Premier League defender with Fulham.

Chiefs' French coach Fernando Da Cruz lamented missed chances in the opening half: "We should have been two or three goals ahead by half-time."

Later, recent signing Thabang Matuludi scored twice from headers as Sundowns overcame lowly Durban City 4-1 in Rustenburg.

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