Orlando Pirates extended their advantage at the top of the Betway Premiership standings following Saturday’s convincing 3-0 win over Marumo Gallants at Orlando Amstel Arena.
With another three points collected, the Buccaneers moved six-points clear at the top of the standings, kicking the second half of their league campaign in style. It was the perfect homecoming following a testing week on the road.
Amid a festive atmosphere in Soweto, the sell-out crowd witnessed a fast-paced start with the home side almost landing on the undesired side of an early goal. This was when ex-Buccaneer Katlego Otladisa broke away during a quick counter, going one-on-one with Sipho Chaine who managed to get a crucial touch to ensure that the ball only struck the upright.
Just moments after surviving the scare, Pirates hit back in a more decisive manner to take the lead just four minutes into the contest. They found the opener through some excellent work on the flank from Relebohile Mofokeng, who showed superb control before delivering a square ball for Yanela Mbuthuma to direct into the net.
Relentless attacking play from the home side led to a few more attempts at the Gallants goal as Masindi Nemtajela forced a brilliant save off Washington Arubi before Patrick Maswanganyi followed suit with a low shot from outside the penalty area.
Their visitors were starved of clear-cut opportunities throughout the first period, leading to a speculative attempt from defender Khumbulani Ncube who went nowhere near the target.
Most of the chances were directed at the Gallants goal, where Patrick Maswanganyi produced the goods just before the half-hour mark with a shot that caught a deflection inside the box before trickling into the back of the net for Pirates’ second.
There was no taking the foot off the break from the hosts despite enjoying a handy lead, as Mofokeng and Oswin Appollis both went close in search of the third. The halftime whistle eventually intervened, signalling an end to a dominant first half from the Soweto Giants.
Following a high-tempo opening half, Pirates employed a more subdued approach in the second. Their first real attempt at the Gallants goal after the restart came from replacement striker Evidence Makgopa whose 57th minute shot failed to find the target. More enterprising play from Mofokeng and Appollis set up another chance for the Bucs forward, but the third goal remained elusive.
Shots continued to fly in towards the visitors’ goal, but neither Appollis nor substitute midfielder Sipho Mbule could add their names to the scoresheet.
There were no such issues for Mofokeng, who found the elusive third goal in cheeky fashion when he cut in from the left before producing a clever chip past the diving Arubi into the back of the net with only five minutes of regulation time remaining.
New signing Daniel Msendami could have made it 4-0 moments after the third goal, but could only miscue his effort from a fair distance out. Mofokeng went even closer in stoppage time, unleashing a curling shot which floated just over the crossbar.
