Orlando Pirates got back to winning ways in the DStv Premiership after defeating Polokwane City 1-0 on Saturday afternoon.
DStv Premiership
Result: Polokwane City 0-1 Orlando Pirates
Date: 02 March 2024
Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium
Pirates made only one change from the thrashing of Crystal Lakes in the Nedbank Cup, as Deon Hotto took the place of Innocent Maela, with Evidence Makgopa leading the line.
The Buccaneers started with a lot of energy as they combined going forward but they were not accurate in front of goal.
Polokwane grew in the game after 15 minutes as they found spaces on the break and midway into the first stanza Oswin Appollis had a chance after he cut inside to take a shot in the box but his effort flew over the crossbar.
City continued to be a threat on transitions, as ten minutes before the break Appollis almost broke the deadlock from a set-piece on the edge of the box after his curling shot landed on the roof of the net.
Jose Riveiro's charges were unfortunate not to be ahead just before the interval after Karim Kimvuidi dribbled his way through in the box and fired a shot that came off the woodwork.
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The game was open from the interval as Polokwane were the most threatening side after Thabang Matuludi and Mokibelo Ramabu had shots smothered by goalkeeper Sipho Chaine.Riveiro eventually made an attacking change on 67 minutes after he brought on Tshegofatso Mabasa in place of Kimvuidi.
Pirates finally got the breakthrough just a minute later from a set-piece after Makgopa found the bottom corner with a header in the box after a long cross by Hotto.
The Soweto giants had a different approach in attack in the closing stages after they withdrew Makgopa and brought on Kabelo Dlamini.
Pirates controlled the game in the dying minutes and Dlamini should have killed the game after he went clear on goal in the box but his low shot came off the base of the post.
However, the Sea Robbers had done enough to clinch their first maximum points of 2024, as they moved up to fourth on the table.
Here's how they lined up:
Polokwane City: 1. Sapunga, 2. Matuludi, 4, Nikani, 34. Nkaki, 33. Ndlovu, 21. Kambala, 14. Maphanhule, 17. Mashikinya, 11. Appollis, 7. Ramabu, 19. Mapfumo.
Subs: 50. Mokwena, 35. Baloyi, 3. Nkwe, 5. F. Baloyi, 12. Alexander, 6. Van Heerden, 29. Tshabalala, 16. Goovadia, 8. Mabena.
Orlando Pirates: 24. Chaine, 49. Ndah, 27. Xoki, 7. Hotto, 2. Monyane, 16. Makhaula, 41. Mbatha, 25. Kimvuidi, 38. Mofokeng, 28. Maswanganyi, 17. Makgopa.
Subs: 31. Ofori, 39. Mthethwa, 37. Lebitso, 23. Maela, 21. Kapinga, 18. Dlamini, 14. Saleng, 8. Monare, 19. Mabasa.
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