Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates both scored three unanswered goals to progress from the first round of the Carling Knockout Cup on Tuesday, setting up a confidence boost before Saturday’s Betway Premiership Soweto derby.
Wandile Duba’s hat-trick earned Chiefs a 3-0 victory over TS Galaxy at FNB Stadium, while Pirates recorded the same score against Milford FC at Orlando Stadium.
The two Soweto rivals meet at FNB Stadium on Saturday at 3.30pm, with both sides having produced emphatic wins ahead of the eagerly anticipated fixture.
Duba’s performance also eased some of the pressure on Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz. Amakhosi had managed only one victory in their previous eight matches in all competitions and were eliminated from the CAF Confederation Cup by Zambia’s Red Devils in the second preliminary round on Friday.
Pirates, meanwhile, followed their Carling Knockout Cup success with another positive result after securing a place in the CAF Champions League group stages. They had beaten Namibia’s African Stars 5-0 on aggregate.
Chiefs and TS Galaxy were level at half-time, but the hosts needed only three minutes of the second half to take control.
Chiefs won possession on the right before a series of quick passes created an opening. Pule Modi then drove the ball across the area, allowing Duba to finish in the 48th minute.
Galaxy substitute Veluyeke Zulu conceded a penalty after fouling Mduduzi Shabalala in the box, prompting referee Siyabulela Qunta to point to the spot.
Mfundo Vilakazi’s penalty was pushed on to the right post by Galaxy goalkeeper Melusi Mathebula. Duba reacted quickest to score from the rebound in the 63rd minute and complete his second goal of the evening.
Three minutes later, Shabalala released Duba with a pass behind the defence and the forward calmly placed his finish beyond Mathebula to complete his hat-trick and seal the win.
Pirates had already established a commanding lead before half-time against Milford FC, with all three goals coming in the opening 45 minutes.
Tshepang Moremi’s pass sent Thapelo Mokobodi through on goal in the 17th minute, and Mokobodi ran clear before finishing past goalkeeper Siphamandla Hleza.
Thalente Mbatha then held off a challenge in midfield and found Moremi on the right. Moremi rounded Hleza and rolled the ball into the net to make it 2-0 in the 34th minute.
Moremi added his second goal two minutes into first-half stoppage time, beating the offside trap from a precise defence-splitting pass by substitute Mpho Padime.
Padime had come on for Ghampani Lungu in the 39th minute.
