Orlando Pirates clinched three crucial Betway Premiership points on Wednesday as they defeated Polokwane City 1-0 in their clash at Orlando Stadium.
It was yet another league win for the Buccaneers, who stretched their streak to six Premiership victories in a row. The result strengthened their grip on third spot, closing the gap between themselves and the second-placed Sekhukhune United to just two points with more midweek action still to follow.
The Buccaneers returned to league football following a disappointing outing over the weekend and looked to get back to winning ways in front of their home support. They immediately assumed control against Rise and Shine as they enjoyed the majority of ball possession and were rewarded six minutes into the contest.
This was when Oswin Apollis delivered a cross from the right flank, which was parried by goalkeeper Brian Bwire into the path of Tshepang Moremi, who pounced and made no mistake in guiding the ball into the back of the net.
With their tails up, the home side continued to dictate matters. They were, however not afforded many clear chances at goal and had a rare opportunity spurned when Moremi miscued a shot from close range after doing well to get on the end of a clever chip from Patrick Maswanganyi.
Despite clear dominance from the Buccaneers, it wasn’t all one-way traffic as the visitors conjured up a few opportunities of their own. Their first real chance came via a set piece delivered in the direction of Banele Mnguni, whose header sailed wide of the Bucs’ goal.
Maswanganyi hit back with an attempt from close range, which drifted narrowly off target. It was however the visitors who staged a strong finish to the first period, drawing goalkeeper Sipho Chaine into a couple of saves.
He was first called on to deny Bonginkosi Dlamini, who got behind the Pirates’ defence, drawing the shot-stopper off his line as he produced a vital stop. Chaine was again equal to the task on the strike of halftime when he kept out a firmly struck low shot from a free kick taken by Manuel Kambala.
With a slim lead after the halfway mark, the hosts were determined to extend their lead and had their first attempt of the second period through Appollis, whose long-range effort caught a deflection which set up an easy save for Bwire. His attempt was followed by a shot from a similar range, struck by Masindi Nemtajela who failed to find the target.
Pirates went even closer to doubling their lead near the hour mark when Maswanganyi connected with Evidence Makgopa, but the striker could only rattle the upright with his attempt from close range.
They continued to probe, with Maswanganyi looking to curl one in from inside the box in the 70th minute, only to be denied by an outstretched Bwire.
With the clock winding down, the contest descended into a scrappy affair with both sides losing their rhythm. Rise and Shine did manage a late chance through a free kick taken at a fair distance out, but Chaine was again equal to the task as he moved across to keep out Puleng Marema’s shot.
