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Orlando Pirates extended their winning streak with a 2-0 win over TS Galaxy in their Betway Premiership encounter held at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night.
It was a fifth consecutive league win for the Buccaneers, who surged from eighth place to third in the standings. In the process, they ended their visitors’ five-match unbeaten streak with a dominant performance in front of a lively home crowd.
In another midweek outing in Soweto, the hosts went on the charge immediately after the first whistle. They could have altered the scoreline as early as the third minute when Tshepang Moremi struck the upright with a firmly hit left-footed shot after getting on the end of a swift counter.
The Buccaneers maintained that sense of urgency throughout the first quarter with Kamogelo Sebelebele firing wide after cutting in from the flank in the 13th minute. They went more direct moments later, working their way into the box where midfielder Masindi Nemtajela was brought down by Mlungisi Mbunjana, with the referee not hesitating to point to the spot.
Evidence Makgopa was the man tasked with spot-kick duties and did not err in expertly guiding the ball past goalkeeper Ira Tapé into the back of the net for a deserved opener.
One goal could have quickly led to two as Sebelebele remained a menace against his former team. He was nicely teed up near the edge of the box, but could only draw a save off Tapé. It took him seconds to produce a similar effort, this time inside the penalty area, where he forced the Ivorian shot-stopper into another save.
Galaxy meanwhile grew into the game as the half-hour mark approached, but did not pose sufficient threat with their chances at goal.
Bucs keeper Sipho Chaine was unchallenged as Puso Dithejane fired straight with a shot from inside the box, while veteran midfielder Mpho Mvelase failed to put enough power behind his header from point-blank range.
Chances died down at both ends towards the break before Pirates emerged out the tunnel for the second period looking the more refreshed of the two sides. Their initial chances were off the boots of Relebohile Mofokeng and Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who both failed to find the target while Deon Hotto managed to place his shot on target, but without connecting well enough to trouble Tapé. Moremi also had two quick fire opportunities around the hour mark, but the second goal remained elusive.
There was another bright moment late 10 minutes from the final whistle for Hotto, who showed excellent pace in working himself into space before drawing a save from the Rockets gloveman. Meanwhile, a relatively quiet second half for Chaine was disturbed late in regulation time when he was called to deny substitute attacker Mory Keita in a one-on-one situation.
That save proved very crucial, with Pirates putting the result beyond doubt deep in injury time. This was thanks to some excellent work on the left from Hotto, who linked up with Mofokeng before laying the ball for replacement striker Tshegofatso Mabasa who headed past Tapé to make it 2-0.
That last-gasp strike provided much-needed relief for the hosts, who had only seconds to navigate en route to bringing up yet another victory in their last league outing before the upcoming international break.
Pirates XI: Chaine, Seema, Mbokazi, Lebitso, Hotto, Nduli, Nemtajela, Mofokeng, Sebelebele (Appollis 60’), Moremi (Mbule 84’), Makgopa (Mabasa 60’).
SOURCED FROM THE CLUB’S WEBSITE.