Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has broken down how his side turned the tables on Kaizer Chiefs to claim a thrilling 2–1 Soweto Derby victory at FNB Stadium on Saturday. Ouaddou was quick to acknowledge that Chiefs controlled the opening half, creating chances and dictating play — but he identified their failure to convert that dominance into goals as the match’s defining turning point.

According to the Pirates mentor, his team used the half-time interval to reset, tighten their structure, and impose their own game plan after the break. The improved second-half performance paid off, securing three crucial points and bragging rights in one of the world’s most fiercely contested rivalries. Ouaddou praised his players’ resilience in weathering the early storm and executing their comeback effectively.

Adding further perspective, a football analyst speaking to Briefly News noted that officiating decisions also factored into the contest’s momentum — though the analyst emphasised that Pirates ultimately earned their success through grit and purposeful play when it mattered most. The result stretches Chiefs’ winless run in the derby to seven matches, a statistic that will deepen the sting for Amakhosi supporters.

For Pirates, the victory strengthens their early-season standing and sends a clear message to title rivals. For Kaizer Chiefs, the lesson is clear: dominance counts for nothing without the cutting edge to turn it into goals — and in the Soweto Derby, that margin is often the difference between glory and defeat.

https://briefly.co.za/sports/football/257663-orlando-pirates-coach-abdeslam-ouaddou-reveals-kaizer-chiefs-lost-soweto-derby/