Orlando Pirates solidified their position at the top of the Betway
Premiership, moving three points clear after a commanding 2-0 victory over
Durban City at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Buccaneers, bolstered by the returns of Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Evidence
Makgopa, controlled the match after a balanced start. The breakthrough came
in the 23rd minute when the lively Relebohile Mofokeng drove forward and
found Makgopa unmarked in the box. The striker took a deft touch before
slotting past Darren Keet for his second goal of the week.
Durban City struggled to create clear chances, with a Bokang Mokwena effort
sailing over the bar before halftime. Pirates continued to press after the
break, with Tshepang Moremi forcing a sharp save from Keet.
Despite a double substitution by City coach Gavin Hunt after the hour mark,
Pirates sealed the victory with a superb team goal. A fluid passing move was
finished off by Patrick Maswanganyi, who guided a first-time shot into the
far corner from substitute Oswin Appollis’s lay-off.
The match ended on a sour note for the hosts as defender Siphamandla Ncanana
received a second yellow card in stoppage time. The result was further
marred for Pirates as Maswanganyi’s earlier booking rules him out of the
upcoming Carling Knockout final.
Lineups:
Durban City: Keet, Ncanana, Mkhize, Gcaba, Mashego, Jurgens, Jodwana,
Maseko, Mokwena (Kamatuka), Domingo, Lubumba.
Subs: Dreyer, Goedeman, Magawana, Koapeng, Nodada, Sifumba, Nyulu, Kamatuka,
De Kock.
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Sibisi, Mbokazi, Ndaba, Lebitso, Mbatha, Nemtajela,
Maswanganyi (Dlamini), Moremi, Mofokeng, Makgopa.
Subs: Buthelezi, Ndah, Van Rooyen, Hotto, Makhaula, Mbule, Dlamini,
Appollis, Mbuthuma.
