Orlando Pirates claimed a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Maritzburg United to move to fourth in the DStv Premiership at the Orlando Stadium on Sunday night.
After the disappointing loss to Mamelodi Sundowns last Thursday, Pirates had to make three enforced changes into their starting XI. Suspensions to Thulani Hlatshwayo and Gabadinho Mhango meant Thabiso Sesane and Kabelo Dlamini were given starts while Abel Mabaso also replaced injured captain Happy Jele.
The visitors flew out of the blocks early and were quite dangerous with their counter-attacks, as Daylon Claasen had an effort on target after a wonderful cut-back by Bandile Shandu.
The team of Choice could have been in front after some incisive play carved the Buccaneers open again on the break only for Bongokuhle Hlongwane’s effort to be denied by Wayne Sandilands.
Dlamini could have put Josef Zinnbauer’s men ahead with a strong effort from distance but his effort missed the mark by some inches. Moments later, Deon Hotto latched onto a through ball from Sesane, but the forward’s tame effort was easily saved by goalkeeper Marcel Engelhardt.
Zinnbauer made some changes at the break, introducing Vincent Pule for Ben Motshwari. That decision would go on to be an inspired one.
Four minutes in, the Buccaneers could have been ahead through Tshefofatso Mabasa but his first-time effort from Pule’s cut-back was way off the mark.
Pule eventually made it 1-0 to the Buccaneers on the hour-mark with a smart finish from close range. Meanwhile, Hlongwane failed to capitalize on a ball that fell into his path in the final 20 minutes, sending his effort high and wide of the post.
Pule headed home a second for Pirates in the 78th minute after Engelhardt mistimed a long ball from Sandilands. The Buccaneers probed for more gals but they never came, but the substitute’s goals were enough to give them their third consecutive win in the Premiership.
The win sees Pirates move up to 38 points in the league standings, level on points with third placed Golden Arrows. For their next outing, the Buccaneers would be switching their focus to continental spirits as they prepare to take on Algerian side ES Setif in the penultimate game of their CAF Confederations Cup tie. A win will more or less see Pirates book a spot in the quarter-finals but a loss could leave them in a tricky position ahead of their final fixture.