Orlando Pirates overcame a nervy period in the second half to beat SuperSport United 3-1 at the Orlando Stadium in their Absa Premiership encounter on Saturday evening.
Pirates came into the game looking to pick up the three points and stay within touching distance of the early pace setters.
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SuperSport, who knocked Pirates out of the MTN only a few weeks ago, came into the fixture full of confidence after securing a place in the MTN8 final and winning four of their opening five Absa Premiership encounters.
These two sides played out to two goalless draws last campaign and both teams were in search of a positive result at the Orlando Stadium.
Pirates started the game well, looking to slip straight into their possession-based game.
It did not take the Buccaneers long to open the scoring. With 15 minutes gone some beautiful build-up play saw the ball worked out wide before a pin-point cross found Vincent Pule unmarked in the box. The recently capped Bafana Bafana man made no mistake in guiding his header past Ronwen Williams from close range.
SuperSport then began to grow into the game and were becoming increasingly more threatening as the half wore on.
Matsatsantsa a Pitori were creating with Bradley Grobler in particular looking likely to bring his team back in it. The Bafana Bafana striker first had a chance with a glancing header and then he attempted to flick on a free kick, but both times failed to beat the Bucs keeper.
In the last five minutes of the stanza both teams were presented with golden chances to add to the score line. First it was Linda Mntambo who skewed his shot wide from inside the box, before Grobler again had a chance to get a goal, but he struck his shot just wide of the upright.
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1-0 to Pirates at the break in a game which SuperSport remained very much alive in.
The tempo dropped off at the start of the second half as both teams looked to find their rhythm after the break.
Kaitano Tembo’s men had the first real chance of the half as they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Pirates box, but Teboho Mokoena could not hit the target with his effort.
SuperSport arguably against the run of play then found a leveller with 70 minutes gone. Milutin Sreojevic’s team failed to clear the ball properly and were punished as the ball was swung back into the box finding Bongani Khumalo at the back post. The defender made no mistake in heading his the ball past Siyabonga Mpontshane.
Pirates then went in search of a winner, while SuperSport sat back inviting the pressure. Pirates eventually made that pressure pay as Xola Mlambo cut the ball was cut back to Thembinkosi Lorch, who took a touch before rifling hist shot past Williams. 2-1 to the home side with 82 minutes gone.
Pirates then wrapped the game up with a third late on the ball was squared back to Ben Motshwari who looked to have a tap-in. His shot, however, was saved by Williams, but the keeper could do nothing about the rebound as Motshwari was on hand to kill the game off.
Pirates walking a way with all three points after a thoroughly entertaining encounter.
Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
