6 - Reyaad Pieterse
Started the match by making a great save from Tendai Ndoro in the fourth minute, but then spent the rest of the fhalf on paid leave without facing any danger. Pieterse was not to blame for the first goal as Ndoro was unmarked, but he really should have done better with the second.
6 - Kgotso Moleko
The inexperienced right-back defended well and coped with Mpho Makola, who was always drifting in and outside. However, he came under increasing pressure in the second half after the introduction of Thabo Qalinge.
6 - Erick Mathoho
Tower and his defence partner Morgan Gould were always at sixes and sevens whenever Ndoro had the ball at his feet. When the Zimbabwean striker scored his first goal the Chiefs defence was wide open like a can of sardines,q and Makola’s pass found Ndoro without any difficulties. In referee’s optional time Mathoho could have scored but his header went wide.
6 - Morgan Gould
Coming in for Lorenzo Gordinho, Gould started on the wrong foot by making a dangerous back-pass in the 24th minute but Pieterse handled the pressure well. Was also partly at fault for Ndoro’s first.
6 - Tsepo Masilela
Masilela started the match pushing forward on every occasion, but failed to find the perfect cross. He was eventually sacrificed for George Lebese in the 87th minute.
5 - George Maluleka
Maluleka looked confident on the ball initially and linked up well with his teammates. However, he lost his composure later in the match and was involved in a scuffle which could have earned him a red card. In the 71st minute he infuriated his coaching staff when he wasted a glorious chance when he chose to dribble instead of passing to his free teammates. Minutes later he was replaced by William Twala.
6 - Willard Katsande
Despite his defensive abilities, in the last few matches Katsande has been one of the more attack-minded Chiefs players. But in this match he chose to stick to his defensive duties and hardly made runs forward. Late in the match, he conceded a free-kick just outside the box but Pirates failed to convert.
7 - Lucky Baloyi
One of the better Chiefs players on the day, Baloyi is slowly but surely making Reneilwe Letsholonyane’s position his own. The midfielder had a few half-chances throughout the game but couldn’t trouble Brighton Mhlongo.
* 7 - Siphiwe Tshabalala
Tshabalala has been the most consistent performer for Chiefs this season and this match was no different. Shabba made his presence felt as early as the 13th minute when he whipped in a great cross for Camaldine Abraw, but the striker missed the header. Just before the break he forced Mhlongo into a great save, and his perfect chipped pass to the unmarked Bernard Parker was only just cleared.
7 - Bernard Parker
Playing just behind Abraw, Parker dropped deep into midfield and combined well with Tshabalala. He set up Abraw in the first half, first just wide in the second and played the perfect pass to Shabba laste on, only for Thabo Qalinge to produce a brilliant tackle.
6 - Camaldine Abraw
Abraw fought hard but failed to get his name on the scoresheet, though not for a lack of trying. Playing against Edwin Gyimah, he fought a good fight but came out second best. Had a couple of half-chances which he failed to connect before being replaced by Siphelele Mthembu.
William Twala
Came on George Maluleka with 16 minutes remaining.
Siphelele Mthembu
Mthembu replaced Abraw with four minutes remaining on the clock.
George Lebese
Lebese replaced Masilela with three minute left.