Orlando Pirates secured a well-deserved 3-0 victory over Polokwane City in a Betway Premiership match played at the iconic Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Tuesday afternoon.
The win elevated the Buccaneers to the top of the league standings having picked up six points from their first two matches. Coach Jose Riveiro's side will now travel to KwaZulu-Natal where they will face Richards Bay on Sunday.
☠️ FT | @orlandopirates 3 - 0 @polokwane_city
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) September 24, 2024
🥅 Saleng 55’, Makgopa 85’, 90+1’
⚫⚪🔴⭐#MatchDay#BetwayPrem#OrlandoPirates #OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/PSCFK9AFJK
Rise and Shine, on the other hand, slipped down to third spot in the standings after recording their first league defeat of the season. Coach Phuti Mohafe's side will look to bounce back to winning ways when they host Stellenbosch FC on Sunday.
Saleng is the man for Pirates once again 😤⚽
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) September 24, 2024
He smashes it home from a tight angle 👇
📺 Stream #BetwayPrem on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc@Betway_za pic.twitter.com/95Vnv6YZKk
Rise and Shine were happy to sit back, and allow the Buccaneers to do most of the attacking. Relebohile Mofokeng tried his luck from range in the 10th minute and his effort flew just over the crossbar.
Pirates were limited to long-range shots as Polokwane looked solid and impenetrable. Deano van Rooyen and Kabelo Dlamini missed the target with their attempts from range in the 32nd minute and first-half stoppage time respectively. The score was 0-0 at halftime.
The hosts exerted pressure on Rise and Shine's defence which went to sleep in the 55th minute. Mofokeng set up Monnapule Saleng who scored with a close-range effort from a tight angle to hand Pirates a 1-0 lead.
Coach Jose Riveiro refreshed his attack in the 84th minute - pulling out Tshegofatso Mabasa and introducing Evidence Makgopa who made it 2-0 to Pirates in the 86th minute after Karim Kimvuidi's shot was parried into his path by keeper Manuel Sapunga.
The goal rattled the Polokwane defence and the visitors conceded again in stoppage time. This time, Raymond Daniels' poor back pass was poked home by Makgopa who completed his brace and sealed Pirates' 3-0 victory.
Pirates 3 (Saleng 55', Makgopa 86', 90'+1)
Polokwane 0
Pirates: Chaine, van Rooyen, Sesane, Ndah (Sibisi 84'), Hotto, Mbatha, Dlamini (Makhaula 74'), Mofokeng, Maswanganyi, Saleng (Kimvuidi 59'), Mabasa (Makgopa 84').
Polokwane: Sapunga, Matuludi, Nkwe, Nikani, Nkaki, Kambala, Ramabu (Daniels 46'), Maphangule, Chauke (Tshabalala 81'), Alexander (Marema 81'), Appollis