Mofokeng sealed it late as Orlando Pirates got momentum

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Relebohile Mofokeng sealed it late as Orlando Pirates got momentum ahead of the Nedbank Cup final.

The Bucs pulled off a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over bitter rivals Kaizer Chiefs in a fiery Soweto Derby clash at the FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The highly anticipated showdown, the first of back-to-back derbies, delivered explosive action right from the start. Chiefs struck early when Glody Lilepo connected with Dillan Solomons’ pinpoint cross, sliding the ball past a diving Sipho Chaine to ignite the crowd.

Lilepo’s goal set the tone for an electric, end-to-end battle. Just before the hour mark, Pirates roared back. Mohau Nkota split the Chiefs defense with a brilliant pass that found Evidence Makgopa in the box. The towering striker calmly slotted the equalizer past Bruce Bvuma, leveling the match at 1-1 by half time.

Both sides created more chances in a frenetic second half, but it was Relebohile Mofokeng who made the decisive breakthrough. In the 69th minute, the Pirates’ talisman smashed home the winner to complete the comeback and seal all three points.

The victory lifts the Buccaneers to 49 points, narrowing the gap to nine behind league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, and gives them a crucial psychological edge ahead of next week’s Nedbank Cup final at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs now sit ninth on the table. With just two league fixtures remaining, they face an uphill battle to break into the top eight and qualify for the 2025 MTN8.

Despite the setback, Chiefs will be desperate for redemption in the domestic cup final.