Vincent Pule, Xola Mlambo and Thembinkosi Lorch player a starring role for Orlando Pirates secured a 2-1 victory over rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the Telkom Knockout in Saturday, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.
Kaizer Chiefs:
Itumeleng Khune: 6/10
The Amakhosi shot-stopper looked a shadow of his normal self between the sticks and made a few errors which he could’ve easily saved. He could’ve done much better to deal with Lorch and Shonga’s goals.
Ramahlwe Mphahlele: 5/10
The former Mamelodi Sundowns captain looked a bit shakey in defence and found it hard to deal with the pace of Pule and lorch down the flanks.
Mario Booysen: 5/10
The experienced defender struggled to deal with the pace of the Pirates attackers and a lack of concentration on his part led to the opening goal.
Siyabonga Ngezana: 6/10
Ngezana made a number of good blocks and clearances to prevent the onslaught from their rivals, while proving to be soild at the back.
Godfrey Walusimbi: 7/10
He was arguably the best Chiefs player on the day. His tactical awareness saw him break down Pirates attackers in the final threat on a number of occasions.
Willard Katsande: 5/10
The Amakhosi veteran did not live up to his normal standards and was often caught wanting in the middle of the park.
George Maluleka: 4/10
A lack of composure and poor desicion making in the middle of the park let him down on a few occasions, although he managed to string together a few passes going forward.
Khama Billiat: 4/10
Billiat was one of Chiefs’ standout performance in their below-par performance. He managed to claim an assist after setting up striker Leonardo Castro to level matters for Amakhosi.
The Zimbabwean failed to live up to his impressive form for Amakhosi this season and stuggled to make an impact going forward.
Lebohang Manyama: 5/10
The former Cape Town City captain wasn’t playing at his usual standards and a few missed placed passes in the middle of the part let him down.
Dumisani Zuma: 5/10
Zuma’s best chance of the game came in the eighth minute when he tried to chip Mabokgwane, who turned his effort away. But his overall lack of composure in the final third let him down.
Leonardo Castro: 7/10
Castro proved to be a constant threat to the Pirates backline and was rewarded with a goal five minutes after going a goal down when Billiat did well to pick out the Colombian, who calmly slotted the ball into the net.
Substitute:
Bernad Parker: 5/10
The veteran striker came on as a second half substitute to give Chiefs more options in attack, but Parker failed to make an impact in attack for the home side.
Kabelo Mahlasela: N/A
Didn’t get enough game time for a rating.
Orlando Pirates:
Jackson Mabokgwane: 7/10
The Pirates goalkeeper was kept on his toes few time but stood firm between the sticks and saved his side at the death when he pulled off a goal-ridden save to deny Kabelo Mahlasela to guide them into the final.
Marshall Munetsi: 6/10
The full-back did well to deal with the threat of Billiat and Zuma and pulled together a few passes as Pirates went forward to attack.
Happy Jele: 6/10
Jele had a relatively good game leading the Pirates backline, but a lack of communication at the back allowed Castro to sneak in between and touch the ball past Mabokgwane.
Innocent Maela: 5/10
Maela showed his composure and played an important role in helping Pirates dominate proceedings in the midfield and going foward to attack.
Asavela Mbekile: 6/10
Mbekile did well to win possession in midfield and did well to break down Chiefs’ passing coming from the likes of Katsande and Maluleka.
Musa Nyatama: 7/10
Nyatama remained consistent throughout the game and continued his great form in a Pirates jersey. His on and off the ball ability proved vital to the Buccaneers success over Chiefs.
Xola Mlambo: 8/10
Mlambo had an excellent game and pulled the strings for Pirates in the midfield and showcased his vision of passing and consistentcy throughout the enire game.
Vincent Pule: 8/10
Vicent Pule continued his fine form for the Buccaneers and put in an impressive shift for his side. His vision on the field saw him produce a sublime pass to pick out Thembinkosi Lorch, who showed great composure to open the scoring for the visitors.
Thabiso Kutumela: 5/10
Kutumela had an average performance and a lack of match fitness showed in the second half as he struggled to keep up with the pace of the game before being replace by Mulenga in the second stanza.
Thembinkosi Lorch: 8/10
His pace down the flanks proved a threat going forward and put a lot of pressure on the Amakhosi defender, which made a difference as he showed his quality and linkup play with Pule to find the back of the net.
Justin Shonga: 7/10
The attacker was reletively quite for most of the game but produced a moment of magic to put the game to bed late in the second half to fire his side into the final.
Substitutes:
Augustine Mulenga: 5/10
Mulenga came on as a second half substitute to replace Kutumela in attack and did well with his off the ball movent although he wasn’t afforded enough time to write his name on the scoresheet.
Caio Da Silva: N/A
Didn’t get enough game time for a rating.
Siyabonga Mpontshane: 6/10
The Pirates defender looked a bit shakey in defence on numerous occasions and was one of the main culprits for Leonardo Castro’s equaliser after a commicational error by him and Happy Jele.
