Orlando Pirates defeated Chippa United for the second time in four days when they racked up a 2-0 win in a DStv Premiership match at the Orlando Stadium on Wednesday evening.
A first-half brace from Tshegofatso Mabasa (which took him top of the league’s scoring charts with 15 goals) saw the Buccaneers overcome the Chilli Boys – just as they did in a Nedbank Cup semifinal this past Saturday.
A seventh successive win across all competitions is a timely boost in the Soweto side’s race to finish in second place.
They remain in third spot, but have closed to within a point of Stellenbosch FC, who could only draw 0-0 with AmaZulu in a concurrent match in the Western Cape.
Chippa, meanwhile, drop to 11th place on the log after a fourth successive loss across all competitions.
After a quiet opening quarter hour, Pirates created the first clear chance on 17 minutes when a fine pass through the lines from Patrick Maswanganyi put Thabiso Monyane free down the right of the penalty area, but his attempt at a shot was sliced well wide of the mark.
The hosts kept up their attacking intent and Maswanganyi again put Monyane in behind the defence on 36 minutes – this time the wingback fired in a low cross that was easily turned home at close range by Tshegofatso Mabasa to make it 1-0.
On 41 minutes Pirates earned a penalty when Innocent Maela’s cross clearly struck the hand of Baraka Majogoro
