Orlando Pirates kicked off their Betway Premiership title challenge on a winning note after they came from behind to beat Chippa United 2-1 at the Orlando Stadium on Wednesday, 18 September.
Andile Jali came back to haunt his former employers when he broke the deadlock with a long-range stunner midway through the first half, but Tshegofatso Mabasa equalised from the penalty spot on the stroke of halftime.
Monnapule Saleng struck the frame of the goal in the closing stages, although he found his mark with a header in stoppage time to snatch a dramatic comeback victory for Jose Riveiro's side.
The hosts showed plenty of enterprise in the opening stages, but they had to wait until the quarter-hour mark to fashion their real chance as Olisa Ndah steered a header wide of the target from a corner.
Instead, the opener arrived at the other end on 22 minutes and it came from a former Pirates player. A loose ball was only partially headed clear and Jali struck it sweetly on the half-volley to leave Sipho Chaine rooted to the spot.
The Soweto giants spent the remainder of the first half probing for an equaliser and Monnapule Saleng drew a save out of Stanley Nwabali in the 35th minute after latching onto a loose ball.
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Chaine then had to be alert to keep out a volley from Bienvenu Eva Nga on 37 minutes before Bucs were presented with a golden opportunity to level matters when Saleng went down under a challenge inside the box in stoppage time.
Mabasa, who won the Golden Boot last season with his 16 goals, made no mistake from 12 yards out to open his and Pirates' account for the 2024-25 campaign.
There were chances at both ends early in the second half as Relebohile Mofokeng tested Nwabali with a shot on the left in the 51st minute, while Chaine was perfectly positioned to save Thabo Makhele's header on 54 minutes.
Saleng to the rescue ☠⚽
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) September 18, 2024
Pirates are off to a winning start thanks to this goal 👇#BetwayPrem | #Betway_za pic.twitter.com/q7ZqwN7Q6j
Saleng was a couple of inches away from netting a potential winner when his shot from inside the area cannoned back off the right post on 78 minutes, but the winger wasn't to be denied as he pounced in the first minute of added time to hand the Buccaneers all three points.
Orlando Pirates (1) 2 (Mabasa 45+4', Saleng 90+1')
Chippa United (1) 1 (Jali 22')
Orlando Pirates: S. Chaine, D. van Rooyen, T. Sesane, O. Ndah, D. Hotto, T. Mbatha, M. Makhaula (K. Dlamini 66'), M. Saleng, P. Maswanganyi, R. Mofokeng (T. Moleleki 66'), T. Mabasa (B. Radiopane 86').
Chippa United: S. Nwabali, S. Kammies, T. Makhele, T. Molaoa, M. Modise, C. Martin (A. Ntsabo 67'), A. Jali (X. Sithole 46'), B. Majogoro, A. Konqobe, S. Kwayiba (A. Teto 46'), B. Eva Nga.