A very shaky performance mixed with few moments of brilliance where Mhlongo made a few good saves. In the first half he held a very high line to stop Chiefs from playing long balls into the danger area. But midway through the first half he committed a comical error when a miscommunication with Thabo Matlaba almost resulted in a bizarre goal.
7 - Ntsikelelo Nyauza
A solid performance from the defender as he forced George Maluleka to move inside instead of bombing down the wing. Went up for overlaps on a few occasions, and almost set up Thano Rakhale early in the second half. But for most of the match he focused on defending and hardly put in a foot wrong before picking up an injury late on.
7 - Edwin Gyimah
Went toe-to-toe to with Camaldine Abraw and could have easily been booked for some of his lunging tackles. But the Ghanaian dealt well with Abraw and on most occasions was always the first man on the ball.
7 - Ayanda Gcaba
With his opponent Bernard Parker playing deep in midfield, Gcaba stayed at centre-back watching for Parker’s late runs into the box, and had a fairly untroubled afternoon.
7 - Thabo Matlaba
Matlaba made a few elementary mistakes in the first half, with the first being the miscommunication with Mhlongo. And three minutes before halftime he was disposessed near the corner flag, but Parker failed to convert a cross. However, he was at his usual best going forward and put huge pressure on Kgotso Moleko
7 - Thabo Rakhale
With his first touch he ballooned his shot over the bar and spent most of the first half playing it safe and making a few runs at the Chiefs defence. He came to life in the second half after the introduction of Thabo Qalinge, and kept the crowd entertained with a few tricks with the game wrapped up.
7 - Issa Sarr
Playing as a holding midfielder, Sarr kept the shape and allowed Luvuyo Memela, Rakhale and Mpho Makola to push forward. Solid rather than spectacular.
7 - Mpho Makola
With Pirates sitting back in the first half, Makola was in and out of the game but tracked back to defend when needed. His moment of brilliance came in the second half when he unlocked the Chiefs defence with a brilliant chipped pass from which Ndoro scored the opener.
5 - Luvuyo Memela
A very poor game from the inexperienced player. Memela dropped into defence when Pirates lost the ball, but he committed unnecessary fouls when going to tackles and isolated himself on the right. He was eventually replaced by Thabo Qalinge.
5 - Gift Motupa
Motupa started the match in his favourite position behind the striker but failed to make an impact. He should have given Pirates an early lead, but inexplicably missed from three meters out.
* 8 - Tendai Ndoro
Ndoro was the undoubted Man of the Match and could have ended with a hat-trick. The striker gave Chiefs’ defenders a run for their money – as early as the fourth minute he made an excellent run from the left, but his shot was well saved. In the second half he opened the scoring with a superb touch and volley on the turn, before catching the defence cold with a quickly taken free-kick for the second.
6 - Sifiso Myeni
The midfielder came on for the ineffective Motupa but did not have mucg of an impact on the game.
7 - Thabo Qalinge
Qalinge replaced Memela with 20 minutes remaining and played his part in the move which resulted in the first goal. A few minutes later he intercepted Parker's dangerous cross which was heading for the unmarked Tshabalala. He was fouled for the free-kick which resulted in the second goal.
Happy Jele
Jale came on for the injured Nyauza with seven minutes remaining.