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The Orlando Pirates will have been relieved to end a six-game winless streak. Wayne Sandilands’ two penalty stops in the second half played an important role in the Absa Premiership’s 2-1 win over SuperSport United on Saturday.
Vincent Pule put the Pirates ahead in the 29th minute, before Luke Fleurs tied for 41st of an eventful showdown at Ellis Park. Substitute Zakhele Lepasa’s streak ended with a 58 hit that proved to be the winner of Bucs.
However, SuperSport could have gotten more out of the game. Sandilands saved two penalties, quite gently, awarded by referee Siyabonga Nkomo, taken by Matsatsantsa forwards Bradley Grobler and replacement Thamsanqa Gabuza.
The Pirates had suffered two losses and four draws in their last six games. The Bucs will be relieved that their goal drought is now showing significant signs of abating.
After a 1-1 draw at Baroka FC where Bucs ended a five-game run without scoring, Josef Zinnbauer’s side added two more on Saturday.
Kaitano Tembo’s young and exciting SuperSport suffered its first bio-bubble loss, having won four and drawn one of its five previous matches since returning to football from the five-month suspension due to Covid-19.
It was the first half of two quarters. SuperSport probed early on, but little by little the Pirates took the upper hand.
For Matsatsantsa, Maphosa Modiba’s chip crossed the area from the left in the opening minute and found new DRC striker Cyprien Manziba free, who was unable to cleanly land a volley, allowing Sandilands to make the save. .
Teboho Mokoena’s double with Modiba saw young star ‚Sandilands pass by receiving the ball at the feet of the SuperSport midfielder.
For the pirates, Fortune Makaringe advanced as Botswana center-back Thatayaone Ditlhokwe slipped into the interception to allow Gabadinho Mhango to follow. The top scorer in PSL’s frustration in front of goal continued when Ronwen Williams parried from a low shot.
Bucs took the lead when Pule caught the ball from Thembinkosi Lorch with his back to the goal and spun around, hitting hard from the edge of the box to beat Ronwen Williams on the left vertical.
But SuperSport managed to get into the break level thanks to two of its young guns. From Jamie Webber’s corner, Fleurs edged past Nkanyiso Zungu to pass Sandilands.
The second half was even more eventful than the first.
Grobler had big chances with a shot and a header from Sandilands.
Then some fine skill and a threaded pass on the edge of the area from Lorch fueled the straight run, dropping a shoulder to beat a defender, from Lepasa, just a minute earlier, who stroked Bucs second past Williams.
SuperSport’s first penalty came when another replacement, Ghampani Lungu, fell under the challenge of Innocent Maela, but with contact outside the box. Grobler’s blow was stopped by Sandilands’ right leg.
The second came from Ntsikelelo Nyauza cutting off Modiba’s ankles, albeit with question marks on the extent of the contact. Gabuza’s kick was low and to Sandilands ‘right, but powerless, when Bucs’ goalkeeper was stopped again.
