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Orlando Pirates clinched three crucial Betway Premiership points in their first home game of the new year as they defeated the visiting Magesi 2-0 at a new-look Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday night.
The win lifted the Buccaneers up to second place in the standings as they hit double figures under the win column to take their points tally to 32 points, level with log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
Afterslipping to fourth place due to the earlier league results, the Soweto Giants had a bright start in their bid to make their way back up the standings. The electrifying atmosphere in the stands was matched by the action on the field as they made a lightning quick surge up field right from kick off with Relebohile Mofokeng and Oswin Appollis’ link-up play threatening on the left.
There was a clear opportunity for Tshepang Moremi just seconds later when the winger was picked out by a well-weighted pass from Appollis, only to miscue his effort with his left foot.
The breakthrough wasn’t far off however, as Pirates took the lead inside nine minutes after Mofokeng’s cutback from the left landed in the path of Yanela Mbuthuma who produced a composed finish into the bottom corner.
One goal could have quickly become two as Moremi dragged his effort wide after popping up on the edge of the box in the 11th minute.
The Buccaneers remained in control for much of the first half, going close through Mbuthuma whose header from an Appollis cross was kept out by Elvis Chipezeze. Another chance fell to Moremi with the winger collecting a rebound from a blocked cross before firing wide.
Their persistence paid off with the break on the horizon when Mofokeng turned from provider to scorer as he combined with Mbuthuma before firing past an outstretched Chipezeze from outside the box.
With the halftime whistle looming after creating some daylight between themselves and the opposition, Pirates did not take their foot off the pedal. This was when Moremi produced an excellent curling shot that looked goalbound, only to be tipped over the crossbar by Chipezeze. Defender Nkosinathi Ndaba followed up with an effort from outside the box, which drifted narrowly wide of the target.
Having been a livewire throughout the first half, Moremi produced the same energy in the second period as he drew another save from the Zimbabwean shot-stopper in the 48th minute. He then linked up with Mbuthuma, who headed over the crossbar after meeting a cross from the right flank.
The hosts continued to produce successive waves of attack as Appollis fired inches wide with a curling shot from the edge of the box, followed by second-half substitute Masindi Nemtajela who went off-target from close range with Chipezeze out of the frame.
The best of Magesi’s chances meanwhile came through set pieces, but the Bucs defence remained equal to the task with the likes of Lebone Seema and replacement right-back Kamogelo Sebelebele making some timely interventions at the back.
Sebelebele almost made a telling impact at the other end where he was released by Appollis before blasting narrowly wide with a firmly-struck shot from a tight angle.
A last-gasp chance nearly resulted in a dream introduction for Bucs debutant Andre de Jong, who was picked out on the far post but was a split-second late to the ball.
That turned out to be the last real opportunity at either end as the Buccaneers succeeded in safeguarding their three points while stretching their unbeaten run in the league to 12 matches.
Pirates XI: Chaine, Seema, Sibisi, Van Rooyen (Sebelebele 46’), Ndaba, Makhaula, Mbatha (Nemtajela 63’), Moremi (Msendami 76’), Mofokeng, Appollis (Maswanganyi 76’), Mbuthuma (De Jong 63’)
SOURCED FROM THE CLUB’S WEBSITE.