Orlando Pirates made it two Soweto derby wins out of two after beating Moroka Swallows 2-0 at the Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Buccaneers had claimed the local bragging rights against arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs last month following a 1-0 win and Evidence Makgopa's first-half strike and an own-goal from Sipho Sibiya on 72 minutes saw them get the better of the Dube Birds as well.
☠️ FT || @orlandopirates 2 - 0 @Moroka_Swallows
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) December 5, 2023
🥅 39' Makgopa
🥅 72' Sibiya (OG)
🎙 Man of the Match | @miguel_timm
⚫️⚪️🔴⭐️#Matchday #DStvPrem#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/bE7ATc7bZf
Jose Riveiro's side moved up to sixth in the DStv Premiership standings, one point clear of Swallows, who dropped down one to seventh place after losing to both of their neighbours in back-to-back outings.
Mabakabaka had the ball in the back of the net just three minutes later through Makgopa, who latched onto a fine pass from Vincent Pule, but the offside flag cut short their celebrations.
Steve Komphela's side went close midway through the first half when Gabadinho Mhango advanced down the left flank and cut inside before unleashing a shot from range that flew inches past the left post.
Makgopa was not to be denied though, as he had the beating of Akpeyi on 39 minutes after running onto a clever pass from Pule to open the scoring from inside the box.
Evidence Makgopa gives Orlando Pirates the lead at the break 👏
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) December 5, 2023
The second half is coming up next ⏭
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The visitors looked to respond and Keegan Allan wasted a good chance to equalise from a free-kick in the 42nd minute when he missed the target with a header at close range.
Swallows continued to push for the equaliser after the restart, with Tlakusani Mthethwa firing narrowly wide of the left post from range on 64 minutes before Kagiso Malinga dragged an effort inches past the right post from distance four minutes later.
Riveiro went to the bench and brought on Monnapule Saleng, who made an immediate impact as he surged down the right and delivered the ball into the box, which deflected off Sibiya into the back of the net.
Football is a game of millimetres for sure 🤏
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) December 5, 2023
Monnapule Saleng makes an immediate impact from the bench 🌟
Pirates lead by two with less than ten minutes to go 🍿
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Saleng was in the thick of the action again three minutes later with a darting run on the right before crossing the ball into the area for Zakhele Lepasa to steer a header across goal.
The Dube Birds refused to lie down though, and Tumelo Mangweni lined up a shot from long range that sailed just wide of the left post on 82 minutes, while Mhango tested Melusi Buthelezi in stoppage time following another storming run down the left before taking a pop at goal.
☠️ 📰 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 📰
— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) December 5, 2023
📢 Bucs Clip Birds in Soweto Showdown
🖥 Read the Match Review 👉🏿 https://t.co/3PLEXoUeXp
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