Orlando Pirates marked their return to Betway Premiership action with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Polokwane City at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.
It’s a result that made it three league wins in as many visits to the venue for the Buccaneers, who completed a double over Rise and Shine to reduce the gap at the top to 12 points.
Following their gruelling midweek cup assignment in Algeria, the Buccaneers remained on the road as they resumed their league campaign. They were not immediately in control as the home side threatened from the get-go in Polokwane, but managed an early attempt at goal in the seventh minute. The chance was sparked by Relebohile Mofokeng who worked himself into space on the left before drawing a save from goalkeeper Brian Bwire.
The hosts hit back with a shot of their own seconds later as Oswin Appollis fancied his hand from a long way out, bringing out the best in Sipho Chaine who displayed great agility to keep his effort out.
Pirates found some rhythm as the game progressed, with Mofokeng forcing Bwire into another save when he went direct from a free kick in the 18th minute. Their best chance of the first half fell to the same player whose first touch directed the ball wide after doing all the hard work in getting behind the defence to meet a brilliant ball from Mohau Nkota.
Bwire continued to frustrate the visitors throughout the first period as he kept out another long-range effort, this time from Thalente Mbatha. Chaine meanwhile had a slightly quieter afternoon with the Bucs putting on a solid shift in dealing with the threat posed by the Limpopo outfit.
Nothing could separate the two sides at the break and the Buccaneers were the first to come knocking after the restart. They did so through a rather confident attempt from defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi, which nearly delivered the breakthrough as he fired just inches wide from almost 50 metres out.
The visitors continued to probe without much luck as the home side remained resilient at the back. It took a 67th minute set piece to breach Bwire’s defences as the Kenyan shot-stopper fumbled Kabelo Dlamini’s ball into the box, allowing defender Nkosinathi Sibisi to finish from close range.
Rise and Shine sprung into life after finding themselves trailing, demanding plenty of defensive work from Sibisi and Mbokazi. The duo was equal to the task throughout as the likes of Appollis and Bonginkosi Dlamini looked to draw their side level.
The game could have been put to bed in injury time when Mofokeng released Mabasa, who was unmarked out on the left. However, the striker rushed his shot at goal, dragging it wide of the target.
It looked as if the Buccaneers would rue the missed opportunity with their opponents unrelenting in their pursuit for the equaliser. Those fears were allayed as they eventually saw out the remaining minutes to claim another crucial win on the road.
Pirates XI: Chaine, Sibisi, Mbokazi, Van Rooyen, Mako, Mbatha (Dlamini 59’), Makhaula (Mosele 76’), Maswanganyi (Xoki 82’), Nkota (Hotto 82’), Mofokeng, Makgopa (Mabasa 59’)
