Yanela Mbuthuma opened the scoring for Orlando Pirates in the 24th minute, Pule Mmodi equalised for Kaizer Chiefs six minutes later: the Soweto derby, on matchday 9, ended in a share of the points between two unbeaten teams.
Six minutes of madness. The Soweto derby, on matchday 9 of the South African league, was decided this Saturday 31 October by an exchange of goals between Yanela Mbuthuma and Pule Mmodi, according to Dailysports. The Orlando Pirates striker struck first in the 24th minute, his first goal in the derby. The Kaizer Chiefs attacking midfielder replied in the 30th.
The two clubs, who were both coming off 3-0 wins in the Carling Knockout in midweek, thus leave the pitch level. Before kick-off, Pirates sat 2nd with 22 points from 8 matches, Chiefs 5th with 14 points. Both sides remained unbeaten in the league this season.
Mbuthuma opens, Mmodi replies
Mbuthuma broke the deadlock in the 24th minute, his first goal in the derby. A striker, he was in the starting XI named by coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, alongside Chaine, Ndaba, Seema, Sibisi, Hotto, Selepe, Mbatha, Mokobodi, Moremi and Masilela.
Chiefs’ response was swift: in the 30th minute, Mmodi brought the two teams level. Coach Fernando da Cruz had started Brandon Petersen in goal and Wandile Duba in attack. Mmodi had already scored in the previous derby, on 26 April.
Two unbeaten sides, one share of the points
The context gave this derby a special flavour: two teams without a league defeat, and two 3-0 wins in the Carling Knockout in midweek. Pirates, second in the table before the match, and Chiefs, fifth, ultimately share the points.
The previous derby, on 26 April 2026, had also ended 1-1: Mmodi had opened the scoring in the 62nd minute, Kamogelo Sebelebele had equalised in the 75th. This new share of the points is thus similar to the last one.
Henry visits Naturena
On the sidelines of the match, Thierry Henry, former France international and Betway ambassador, watched the derby and then visited the Chiefs’ headquarters at Naturena. The former international was presented with an orange shirt bearing his name and the number 14, reports Dailysports. Henry also remains Arsenal’s all-time top scorer with 228 goals in 377 matches.
Chiefs will next play a Carling Knockout Cup quarter-final against Siwelele FC, on 7 and 8 November 2026.