Chiefs End 10-Year Trophy Drought with Thrilling 2-1 Victory Over Pirates at a Packed Moses Mabhida
Durban, South Africa – Kaizer Chiefs have finally ended their decade-long trophy drought with a dramatic 2-1 win over arch-rivals Orlando Pirates in a sold-out final at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday evening.
In a match that will go down in South African football history, Chiefs fans erupted with joy as their team lifted their first piece of silverware in 10 years. The long wait came to an emotional end in front of a capacity crowd, with all 56,000 tickets selling out within just 90 minutes of release — a demand so overwhelming that it caused the ticketing system to crash.
A Classic Soweto Derby with Everything at Stake
The atmosphere was electric as both sets of fans created a sea of gold and black. Chiefs came into the match with the pressure of history weighing heavily on their shoulders, while Pirates looked to add another trophy to their recent successes.
Chiefs opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a penalty calmly converted by Gaston Sirino, following a defensive mistake by Pirates that saw Pule Mmodi brought down inside the box. The stadium erupted as the Amakhosi fans felt a long-awaited breakthrough might finally be on the horizon. But Pirates struck back just five minutes later, as Evidence Makgopa rose brilliantly to head home a superb equalizer, reigniting the intensity of the battle between South Africa’s most storied rivals.
The Decisive Moment
Chiefs captain Yusuf Maart sealed the victory in the 80th minute after a costly error by young Pirates defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who misplaced a clearance straight into the path of Sibongiseni Mthethwa. Mthethwa quickly intercepted and fed Makabi Lilepo, who linked up with Mduduzi Shabalala. Shabalala then released Ashley Du Preez on the right wing, and Du Preez delivered a precise cross into the box, where Maart smashed it past Sipho Chaine with his left foot to put Chiefs ahead.
Chiefs held on through a nervy final few minutes, with goalkeeper Brandon Petersen pulling off a stunning saves in stoppage time to deny Pirates an equalizer.
A New Chapter Begins
The final whistle triggered scenes of celebration not seen in a decade. Players, staff, and fans alike were overcome with emotion, many shedding tears as they embraced a long-awaited triumph. For new coach Nasreddine Nabi, it was a moment of vindication and a potential turning point for a club desperate to return to its former glory.
The trophy — Chiefs’ first since 2015 — marks a significant milestone in what could be the rebirth of a once-dominant force in South African football.
Looking Ahead
This match marked the final blow for the Buccaneers, who suffered a string of major setbacks in quick succession — crashing out of the CAF Champions League, falling short in the Betway Premiership and Nedbank Cup, and parting ways with their coach, Jose Riveiro, all within a short period.
But for now, the spotlight — and the glory — firmly belong to Kaizer Chiefs.
After 10 long years, the gold and black have risen again.