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Orlando Pirates claimed a narrow 2-1 victory over SuperSport United at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Vincent Pule opened the scoring for Bucs with an excellent shot in the 29th minute. Luke Fleurs retired a goal with his header in the 41st minute, but Zakhele Lepasa came off the bench to score the winning goal on his first touch.
SuperSport may have won the tie, but both Bradley Grobler and former Pirates forward Thamsanqa Gabuza had penalties stopped by Wayne Sandilands.
Matsatsantsa was up from the start with Guily Manziba firing on a close-range volley from a cross from the left that Sandilands managed to put down.
SuperSport was applying good early pressure, as the Pirates looked to play from behind. The Bucs were adjusting to a good passing pace but not really threatening.
The pirates had Sandilands to thank again, for denying Jamie Webber, after an impeccable one-two with Teboho Mokoena, from outside the area.
Grobler’s shot in the 17th minute was deflected to a corner, while Ronwen Williams made a strong save to block Gabadinho Mhango from inside the area after a slip by central Thatayaone Ditlhokwe to let him into the goal.
Several balls inside the area were causing problems for the Bucs’ defense, but it was the Pirates who took the lead in the 29th minute.
An excellent shot into the lower right corner of the net from Pule’s range followed a good approach play and a clean touch from Thembinkosi Lorch to set up his teammate.
It was an increasingly open first half, with both sides looking to get ahead, and Sandilands knocked over a curved, plunging shot from Mokoena over the crossbar, though the shot appeared to be headed just over the target.
Aubrey Modiba made an effort in the 40th minute just off the Bucs’ left post via a deflection as SuperSport finished the half well, culminating in a super equalizer. Fleurs came through the back post to get between two defenders and his head into Webber’s corner to propel the ball home.
Grobler nearly caught Sandilands outright with a snapshot from inside the box after a slow start to the second half, but the keeper was up to the task.
Grobler then forced Sandilands to make a smart reaction stop to stop his header, after a strong run from Sipho Mbule before his precise cross.
Bucs made a double substitution just before the hour, with Lepasa making an immediate impact as he got home from close range after a super pass through Lorch.
Lunga Ghampani had just been introduced by SuperSport and his first action was to win a penalty after being knocked down by Maela, although replays showed that the initial contract was made out of the box.
Grobler stepped in to launch the kick, but his poor penalty down the middle was saved by Sandilands’ outstretched foot.
SuperSport had a second chance to level from the penalty spot, but this time Gabuza’s shot was easily saved by Sandilands to their left. Modiba had been cut by Ntsikelelo Nyauza when Mbule hit the ball to his teammate inside the box.
Modiba then smashed a free kick in the 76th minute far off target as SuperSport searched for a leveler, but despite a series of set pieces, it was the Pirates who saw the game for the much-needed three points.
– TEAMtalk Media
