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Orlando Pirates strengthened their position at the top of the Betway Premiership standings with a 2-0 win against Sekhukhune United in their clash played at Orlando Amstel Arena on Tuesday night.
It was the perfect homecoming for the Buccaneers, who marked their return to familiar turf with three points which kept the unbeaten start to their title defence intact. They kept their third clean sheet of the season while making it two wins in as many home league fixtures early on in the campaign.
Stepping onto the Orlando pitch for the first time in nearly two weeks, Pirates went into the clash sporting four changes from the team that did duty against the same opposition over the weekend. It was one of the fresh faces who nearly produced an early strike when defender Sbangani Zulu got on the end of a cross from Simphiwe Masilela before drawing a save from Melusi Buthelezi in the third minute.
The hosts had a few scares deep in their territory in the opening exchanges, with their visitors failing to capitalise off the Buccaneers failure to clear the danger inside their box. That would be the only nervy moment in a while for the hosts, who maintained their dominance at the other end.
Their persistence eventually paid off when they broke the deadlock 36 minutes into the contest through Boitumelo Radiopane, who was making his first start of the season. The centre-forward was located inside the box by Kamogelo Sebelebele and made no mistake in turning the ball past Buthelezi from a tight angle.
Sekhukhune hit back with some intent in response to falling behind, and went narrowly close to finding an equaliser just before the break when Bradley Mojela headed wide from inside the penalty area. The Babina Noko forward had another bite at the cherry on the strike of halftime but that effort also fell off target.
The visitors continued where they left off early in the second half, resulting in another scare for their hosts as Mokibelo Ramabu headed wide from close range in the 55th minute. Momentum however remained pointed in one direction as the Buccaneers recorded their second goal just after the hour mark.
It came through the boot of birthday boy, Oswin Appollis who was gifted with a relatively simple finish following some excellent work in the build-up from Radiopane as he took the keeper out of the equation before setting up the Bucs’ winger’s finishing touch with a well-weighted square ball.
Babina Noko however weren’t about to resign themselves to their fate as they resumed the search for their opener, which was met by a solid defensive display from the Buccaneers. They could have conjured up a tricky finish late on in the encounter, when they managed to spark up a few last -gasp opportunities.
Sipho Chaine kept out the first of their injury-time chances through excellent positioning when he denied Tshepo Mokoena from close range. He did not have to move much once more as he made a comfortable grab to keep out D’Angelo Kazeem’s shot from outside the box.
Pirates’ ruthlessness in front of goal along with Sekhukhune’s inability to make their opportunities count ensured that all three points remained with the home side, who take a crucial psychological edge to the weekend’s all-important cup encounter.
Pirates XI: Chaine, Seema, Zulu, Sebelebele, Hotto, Mthiyane, Mokobodi (Mmolai 84’), Masilela (Selepe 75’), Appollis (Ngwato 75’), Msendami (Kgositsile 60’), Radiopane (Pedersen 75’).
SOURCED FROM THE CLUB’S WEBSITE.