Orlando Pirates notched up their second victory against Chippa United inside four days as they won 2-0 in their DStv Premiership clash played at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday night.
Orlando Pirates complete a double over Chippa United
Three points were up for grabs in Soweto as the two sides slugged it out once more following the weekend’s Nedbank Cup encounter at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium where the Buccaneers prevailed to book their place in the final.
At home for the first time since hosting AmaZulu in mid-April, the home side struggled to find cohesion early on with the opening 20 minutes flying by without any real opportunities at both ends.
Bucs defender Thabiso Monyane was however presented with a chance in the 17th minute when he was released in acres of space by Thalente Mbatha but badly miscued his shot at goal. It took them until just before the half-hour mark to truly trouble the defence as Patrick Maswanganyi surged through the middle before drawing a deflection inside the box with his effort at goal.
The breakthrough wasn’t too far off, and it came in the 36th minute through some delightful interplay kicked off just inside Chippa territory when Maswanganyi released Monyane on the flank and the right-back delivered a searching cross which was turned into the net by Mabasa.
Pirates remained dominant and had an opportunity to double their lead four minutes before the break when Baraka Majogoro used his hand to defend Innocent Maela’s cross into the box, prompting the referee to point to the penalty spot.
The in-form Mabasa stepped up to convert and made no mistake as he sent the ball past a diving Stanley Nwabali into the bottom corner. An error-strewn start to the second period nearly left the visitors with an even steeper hill to climb as midfielder Thabo Makhele’s misdirected back pass came close to finding his own net before a desperate scramble from Nwabali who rushed across to make a clearance.Chippa did show glimpses of intent as they looked to claw their way back and could have halved the deficit on the hour mark when Ronaldo Maarman fired at goal, only to be denied a deflection from Tapelo Xoki who had stuck his foot out inside the box.
The two sides traded blows as the clock wound down, with Kabelo Dlamini drawing a save from Nwabali with a long-range effort while Sipho Chaine produced a similar outcome at the other end in keeping out Aviwe Mqokozo’s header.
The Bucs shot-stopper was called upon once more on the 90-minute mark to deny Brooklyn Poggenpoel after the midfielder had unleashed a powerful shot from a fair distance out. This was followed by an injury-time effort from Pirates striker Evidence Makgopa who pushed into space before forcing Nwabali into a save from close range.
The two first-half goals were however all that was needed to settle the contest as the Soweto Giants clinched another vital win to extend a remarkable winning run.Newly crowned DStv Premiership champions, Mamelodi Sundowns were held to a 0-0 draw by Lamontville Golden Arrows at the Mpumalanga Stadium on Wednesday.
Albeit goalless, the fixture offered the spectators what could be described as a mouthwatering 90 minutes of football. The Masandawana defence was under threat in the early minutes of the encounter as the hosts’ attack caused problems, forcing the first save out of Ronwen Williams after driving it and shooting just outside the area.
10 man Sundowns win, still undeaten
The visitors returned the fire through Thembinkosi Lorch who tried to spread his foot in the nearpost to try and make things happen for his side, but the Golden Arrows keeper, Ismail Watenga smacked the ball away to deny them.
It was an occupied opening for both goalkeepers as end-to-end football was displayed, sending both teams’ rearguards to work and having to defend their boxes. Lucas Ribeiro, who posed a few threats in the opening moments of the encounter, picked up an injury before the thirty-minute mark which forced Coach Rhulani Mokwena to make an early substitution, introducing Peter Shalulile.
Pressure was brewing as the two sides were looking for an opener and it was beginning to become evident in the pitch. Matias Esquivel had a big chance right in front of goal, to make a difference before the break but he put it over the bar.
The first half closed with a free kick awarded to Abafana Bes’thende following a foul by Ronwen Williams who got booked. The setpiece was however not fruitful as the ball went wide, seeing both sides goalless at the break.
The second stanza kicked off with the referee giving marching orders to Mosa Lebusa following a last man foul on Arrows’ Zwane, leaving the Brazilians with only ten men in the pitch.
The KwaZulu-Natal-based side took advantage of the ten men they were playing against and made an instant impact through two dangerous chances in quick succession, but both attempts went wide.
