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Pirates claim local bragging rights against Swallows

football05 December 2023 20:29| © Backpage TXT
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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.

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.

Pirates came into the derby on the back of the three-game unbeaten run, having drawn 0-0 with Richards Bay last time out, while Swallows went in search of their first win in three matches after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Chiefs most recently.
The hosts made a bright start and Daniel Akpeyi had to be alert as he blocked a shot from Makgopa on five minutes after the striker got on the end of Fortune Makaringe's cross.

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.

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.

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.

Orlando Pirates (1) 2 (Makgopa 39', Sibiya OG 72')
Moroka Swallows (0) 0
Orlando Pirates: M. Buthelezi, F. Makaringe, O. Ndah, T. Xoki (N. Sibisi 61'), P. Maswanganyi (K. Dlamini 61'), M. Timm, N. Ndlondlo (S. Baloni 84'), D. Hotto, V. Pule (M. Saleng 71'), R. Mofokeng, E. Makgopa (Z. Lepasa 71').
Moroka Swallows: D. Akpeyi, K. Phillips, K. Allan (S. Sibiya 68'), V. Sibiya, F. Tshanini, T. Patjie, T. Mthethwa, D. Zuma (T. Mangweni 81'), L. Mtshali (D. Van Rhyn 68'), K. Malinga (O. Khumalo 81'), G. Mhango.

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