Orlando Pirates continue to keep pace with Mamelodi Sundowns in the Betway Premiership title race, as they secured a 2-0 victory over Richards Bay at the Orlando Amstel Arena in Soweto on Wednesday.
The Buccaneers recorded their third straight win in the Betway Premiership and remain level with Sundowns at the top of the log on 47 points, but have gone ahead on goal difference thanks to a last minute penalty goal from Evidence Makgopa.
The Natal Rich Boys could not make it back-to-back wins against Soweto opponents and fell to their second loss in their last four league games. The loss in Orlando sees them drop out of the top eight and into 10th spot on the standings with 23 points.
With only their pursuit of the league title to focus on, the Buccaneers fielded a full-strength line-up and were bolstered by the return of Kamogelo Sebelebele, who provided an assist, from suspension for yellow cards accumulated.
With the visitors showing a defensive set-up from kick-off, Thalente Mbatha tried his luck from distance in the 6th minute, forcing Ian Otieno into a diving save.
Otieno was called into action again in the 10th minute as Deon Hotto fired his freekick towards the bottom right corner. However, he could not catch the goalkeeper sleeping and was denied at the near post.
The hosts opened the scoring in the 26th minute. Sebelebele managed to get to the ball at the byline in the box and pull it across the face of goal for the arriving Oswin Appollis to tap home his fourth league goal of the season
In the 38th minute, Relebohile Mofokeng played Yanela Mbuthuma into the box. The striker’s first touch was a bit heavy, leading to his attempt going wide of the target.
The striker had another opportunity a minute later as Appollis’ ball found the head of Mbuthuma, but it did not seem that the striker knew much about it, unable to direct the ball goalwards.
In the 66th minute, Otieno came to the rescue again, denying Hotto’s attempt from inside the six-yard box.
Mbatha was on the receiving end of Hotto’s corner in the 73rd minute, but scuffed his shot at the back post, missing an opportunity to double the hosts’ lead.
In the 80th minute, Luyanda Khumalo did well, to hold onto the ball in the Pirates box, and attempt to square the ball for fellow substitute Knox Mutizwa. However, the ball was intercepted and cleared before he could make the most of it.
The Buccaneers came close to a second in the 82nd minute. Hotto set Mofokeng up on the edge of the area, but he could not beat Otieno who touched his shot onto the crossbar.
In stoppage time, Tshepang Moremi was chopped down in the Richards Bay box, resulting in a penalty. Makgopa buried the spot kick to double the Buccaneers’ lead at the death.
Pirates will be back at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday as they host Siwelele, while the Natal Rich Boys are involved in another provincial derby against AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, also on Saturday.
Orlando Pirates (1) 2 (Appollis 26’, Makgopa 90+5’)
Richards Bay 0
ORLANDO PIRATES: S. Chaine, L. Seema, N. Sibisi, D. Hotto (N. Ndaba 90+1’), K. Sebelebele, M. Makhaula, T. Mbatha, P. Maswanganyi (T. Moremi 60’), R. Mofokeng, O. Appollis (M. Chabatsane 90+1), Y. Mbuthuma (E. Makgopa 60’)
RICHARDS BAY: I. Otieno, L. Mabuya, S. Mntungwa, T. Sikhakhane, S. Mcineka, T. Mthethwa (T. Nashixwa 72’), T. Gumede, M. Mthembu (L. Khumalo 76’), L. Mahala (K. Mutizwa 75’), L. Zikhali, S. Barns (W. Ngema 84’)