Orlando Pirates fought back from a goal down to claim a dramatic three points at Orlando Stadium on Saturday, netting twice in the second half to clinch a 2-1 win over Cape Town City in a thrilling Betway Premiership encounter.
The hosts’ relentless fight earned them valuable three points halfway through their campaign while piling misery on their opponents, who could not climb from the bottom half of the table. The result kept the Soweto Giants within touching distance of the table-topping Mamelodi Sundowns.
It was a second outing at Orlando Stadium in as many weeks for the Buccaneers, but their first in the league since December. They initailly struggled to entertain the large crowd that had shown up, despite camping in the opposition half for much of the opening exchanges.
City goalkeeper Darren Keet had a say early on as he comfortably dealt with shots from Thalente Mbatha and Relebohile Mofokeng. Much of the first quarter followed a similar theme as Pirates fed off scraps as far as clear-cut opportunities were concerned.
They were caught against the run of play in the 21st minute when City made the most of a rare chance at goal. The final touch came off Haashim Domingo, who got on the end of a cross from Prins Tjiueza after the Namibian had found a way behind the Pirates defence on the left.
The Buccaneers’ early attempts at finding an equaliser proved futile, as the visitors kept their defensive shape. At the other end, Sipho Chaine was called into action just after the half-hour mark when he was forced low to his right to keep out a shot from Tjiueza.
Shots kept flying towards the Citizen’s goal for the rest of the first period, with Mofokeng and Patrick Maswanganyi both coming close without troubling the scorers. The halftime whistle sounded with the home side still trailing as the Capetonians went within 45 minutes of a league double.
However, there was more purpose to the Soweto Giants’ approach in the second period as Deano van Rooyen and Thalente Mbatha continued the bombardment of Keet’s goal with efforts from a fair way out. Fresh legs were introduced soon after the hour mark with Mohau Nkota taking to the field alongside Goodman Mosele, who was making his first appearance of the season following an injury lay-off.
It was the 20-year-old winger who made an immediate impact, popping up on the left before beating his marker to deliver a cutback towards Tshegofatso Mabasa. The striker only needed a single touch to impact the scoresheet, guiding his shot past the City shot-stopper to draw level in the 67th minute.
Phillip Ndlondlo could have placed his name in the scorecard soon after coming on when he unleashed a powerful shot which was blocked by Keet. His side remained unrelenting in their pursuit of the winner, sending wave after wave of attack deep into City territory.
Something was to give, and it did with only three minutes of regulation time remaining. It was Mosele who got the decisive touch this time around as he sent the ball over the goal line from close range in the second time of asking after a scramble inside the visitors’ box.
City immediately went in search of the equaliser, with Tjiueza spurning a chance at goal after finding a way past the defence. It turned out to be the final opportunity for the men from the Cape, with the Buccaneers digging deep to secure a crucial victory.
Pirates XI: Chaine, Xoki, Sibisi, Van Rooyen (Ndlozi 75’), Hotto, Mbatha (Makgopa 75’), Makhaula (Mosele 62’), Maswanganyi (Nkota 62’), Shandu (Ndlondlo 68’), Mofokeng, Mabasa.
