Orlando Pirates Reserves posted a dominant performance over SuperSport United, winning 3-0 in their DStv Diski Challenge fixture held at Rand Stadium on Saturday.
It was the Soweto Giants’ first win in four years over the competition’s reigning champions, who went into the fixture eager to complete a league double after their victory earlier in the season.
The Tshwane outfit however looked set for an uphill climb from the onset, with the hosts emerging as the livelier of the two sides during the game’s opening exchanges. Pirates had early chances through Cemran Dansin and Azola Matrose, who both couldn’t alter the scoreboard after working their way into good attacking positions.
A moment of good luck brought about the breakthrough just eight minutes in when a costly error from United goalkeeper Zach Taitz handed Gosiame Ngobeni an easy chance, which he grabbed with both hands as he went unchallenged in guiding the ball into an empty net.
The Bucs centre-forward could have completed his brace inside the game’s opening quarter when he muscled his way through the visitors’ heavily guarded penalty area before drawing a save from Taitz.
Meanwhile, Mohau Nkota caused problems with his pace on the right flank, and the defence’s erratic attempts at containing him gave the Buccaneers a golden chance to double their lead as he was brought down inside the box.
The referee duly pointed to the spot, and Matrose stepped forward to fire into the bottom corner, sending Taitz the wrong way to put the Buccaneers two goals up in the 25th minute.
They then had to withstand continuous waves of attack from United, who were determined to reduce the deficit.
The visitors maintained their aggressive approach in the second half, but it was the hosts who managed the first shot at goal through Nkota, who cut inside from the right before drawing a save from Taitz.
Bucs keeper Zoey Monyepao was called upon to make an excellent save on the hour mark, stretching to his left to keep out a firmly-struck shot from deep.
There were more opportunities for Pirates, with Relebohile Mofokeng twice shooting off target midway through the second period, while United were kept at bay by an assertive defensive effort.
An excellent counter resulted in the Buccaneers’ third goal of the morning, finished off by Nkota after superb work on the right by replacement striker Mpumelelo Ndaba who broke away before cutting back inside for the winger.
At three goals to the good going into the game’s dying moments, the hosts could have further stretched their lead as Dansin and Nxumalo both fired at goal without finding the net.
There were no further changes to the scoreline, with the Soweto Giants bagging a convincing win to consolidate their spot at the top of the standings.
Pirates Reserves XI: Monyepao, Magugwana, Mbokazi, Mdunge, Mohlala, Chibwe, Matrose (Mazibuko 60’), Dansin, Nkota (Nxumalo 80’), Mofokeng, Ngobeni (Ndaba 60’).
