Kaizer Chiefs have been crowned 2024/25 Nedbank Cup champions following a 2-1 victory over Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates on Saturday afternoon.
Chiefs dropped Bruce Bvuma and give a rare start to Brandon Petersen, while Deano Van Rooyen, Nkosinathi Sibisi and Patrick Maswanganyi were Pirates' three changes from last week's Soweto Derby.
The Amakhosi made a positive start on eight minutes when Gaston Sirino rifled into the bottom-corner from the penalty spot after Van Rooyen had brought down Pule Mmodi.
Jose Riveiro’s men weren’t rattled and levelled matters ten minutes later as Evidence Makgopa leaped high at the back-post to head in a pin-point free-kick from Deon Hotto.
Chiefs looked to regain the lead a little later with Sirino seeing a lot of the ball, but he had his every move courted by the tough-tackling Makhaula.
Petersen came good at the other end when he dived to the near post to keep out a low strike from a clever angle by Mohau Nkota.
Both teams enjoyed a solid start to the second half with a lot of forward runs and passes, but unfortunately couldn’t rattle the net.
Pirates were closest to going ahead ten minutes after the break after a curling shot from the right of the area by Nkota came off the side-netting.
The Amakhosi responded with a double substitution inside the closing quarter, as Mduduzi Shabalala came on for Sirino while Duba was sacrificed to grant Ashley Du Preez an entry.
The Amakhosi grew stronger moments thereafter and nearly regained the lead when a first-time shot at the far post by Mmodi hit the upright.
Captain Yusuf Maart led from the front ten minutes from time when he found space on the edge of the six-yard box and powered in the bottom-corner following Shabalala’s cross.
Pirates nearly levelled for the second time in the match through a curling free-kick by Kabelo Dlamini, but saw Petersen equal to the task.
The Buccaneers continued to search for the equaliser, but the Amakhosi weathered the storm and grabbed victory as well as the Nedbank Cup – ending their ten-year trophy drought.
Confirmed line-ups:
Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen, Kwinika, Miguel, Dove, Solomons, Maart, Cele, Mmodi, Duba, Lilepo, Sirino
Subs: Ntwari, Mashiane, Shabalala, Castillo, Matlou, Ngcobo, Mthethwa, Du Preez, Morris.
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Sibisi, Mbokazi, Van Rooyen, Hotto, Mbatha, Makhaula, Maswanganyi, Mofokeng, Nkota, Makgopa
Subs: Buthelezi, Selepe, Radiopane, Mako, Xoki, Shandu, Kimvuidi, Mabasa, Dlamini
