Football
Nick Said, Special to ESPN 6y

Top five Soweto Derby matches of all time

Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates lock horns in the Soweto Derby on Saturday as they write another chapter in the history of one of Africa's great rivalries.

KweséESPN has picked out five of our favourite derby matches from the past that have helped to make the fixture the grand occasion it is today.

1971, LEAGUE

KAIZER CHIEFS 4 ORLANDO PIRATES 3

This was the first ever league meeting between the sides and proved memorable for the never-say-die attitude of the Chiefs players as they rallied from 3-0 down to claim the most unlikely of victories.

It was all Pirates in the opening stages as they raced into a commanding lead after goals from Johnny Kekana, Hubert Leroke and Alfred Jacobs.

Chiefs were handed a lifeline before the break when Herman Blaschke pulled a goal back and then Petros Nzimande netted to make it 3-2 at halftime.

That swung the momentum in Chiefs' favour, and after Nzimande had equalised, player/coach Thomas Johnson conjured a dramatic winner three minutes from time with an excellent scissor-kick.

1972, CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS FINAL, SECOND LEG

ORLANDO PIRATES 3 KAIZER CHIEFS 7

Unlike today, there were plenty of goals in the early years of the Soweto Derby and this proved another fine comeback from Chiefs, who had trailed 2-0 at the break and lost their star man Ace Ntsoelengoe to injury.

David Fakude netted a penalty and Blessing Mgidi grabbed the other goal as Pirates looked comfortable in the opening half.

The comeback was on when Fakude turned villain as he tripped Blaschke and Joseph Setlhodi converted from the spot. Blaschke equalised with a header from Bizzah Dlamini's bicycle-kick pass, before Pro Kgongoane slammed Chiefs in front with a thunderous drive.

Pirates would not lie down though and forced the game to extra-time when Jacobs put his header into the back of the net.

However, it was all Chiefs in extra-time as Johnny Mokoena scored two goals himself, set-up Kaizer Motaung for another and watched on as Dlamini also got his name on the scoresheet.

1984, JPS KNOCKOUT CUP QUARTERFINAL

KAIZER CHIEFS 3 ORLANDO PIRATES 3

A remarkable match that should have gone to penalties to decide the outcome, but the referee decided it was too dark and that the teams would have to come back another day.

Chiefs looked certain for victory as they led 2-0 going into injury-time at the end of the game after strikes from Samora Khulu and Trevor Mtimkulu in the second half.

Pirates were given a late, late lifeline when Jeff Ntsibande converted from the penalty-spot, and then dramatically found an equaliser in the seconds that remained through Nick Seshweni to send the game to extra-time.

Mandla Sithole then put the Buccaneers ahead, but there was more late drama as Teenage Dladla equalised two minutes from the end for Chiefs.

Chiefs won the replay 2-0 with the game played some two months after the original fixture.

1990, LEAGUE

ORLANDO PIRATES 5 KAIZER CHIEFS 1

This thrashing by Pirates over Chiefs represents their biggest ever victory in a Soweto Derby, and came after a period in which the club were in the doldrums and a few years before had come close to relegation.

Better still for Pirates fans, the result all but ended Chiefs' bid to win the league that year.

Pirates made a fast start and led 3-0 at the break as Sithole, Ernest Makhanya and Teboho Moloi all netted before the break.

Absalom Thindwa provided some hope for Chiefs when he netted just before the hour-mark, but Rod Anley added two more goals for Pirates in the final 20 minutes to power them to a famous win.

2007, LEAGUE

ORLANDO PIRATES 2 KAIZER CHIEFS 2

This Derby was unusually played in Durban, with the switch in venue to King's Park Rugby Stadium part of a roadshow by officials ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

It was a packed venue and a fantastic atmosphere that was made more lively after just 19 seconds when Chiefs striker Mabhuti Khenyeza netted the fastest ever Derby goal.

Excellent Walaza headed Pirates level before halftime, before he swung the game in The Buccaneers favour after the break as he tapped home from a rebound after Paulus Masehe's shot had been parried by Itumeleng Khune.

Chiefs rallied again though and were level when Arthur Zwane scored with a rare headed effort at the back post.

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