Orlando Pirates beat Polokwane City to stay level with leaders Mamelodi Sundowns in the title race

POLOKWANE CITY    (0)(1)

Dlamini 86’

ORLANDO PIRATES (0)(2)

Mofokeng 53’, Maswanganyi 90+1’

Orlando Pirates remained top of the Betway Premiership standings, level on 44 points with the second placed Mamelodi Sundowns, after beating Polokwane City 2-1 at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday night.

Pirates came into this match on a high, having not only won three points against arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs, but also the country’s bragging rights. But for all their high spirits, the Sea Robbers seemed to have left their scoring boots at the Calabash, resulting in a nervy finish to the game.

Pirates were the better team in Polokwane from start to finish. They dominated possession, gliding past City like a hot knife through butter, but they lacked precision and execution in the final third as the two teams went into the break with a stalemate.

Pirates’ first real chance of the game came courtesy of Evidence Makgopa. The towering striker did well to dispossess his marker as he raced through on goal. But his final product was off target, while goalkeeper Lindokuhle Mathebula also helped to divert the shot with a one-hand save.

Having Makgopa as a No 9 and Andre de Jong as a No 10 seemed to work in Pirates’ favour, the New Zealander holding up play and protecting the ball, giving ample freedom to their front runners, Relebohile Mofokeng and Oswin Appollis.

Appollis should have also found the lead, but his hard and low shot from distance was saved by Lindokuhle Mathebula before his defence regrouped to clear the danger away.

Such was the superb form of Mathebula in goal, he also saved Mofokeng’s close-range effort, frustrating the Sea Robbers who kept knocking at his door, without a response.

Pirates thought they had an opportunity to find the lead from the spot-kick after Luxolo Badi whistled for a City handball inside the box. However, after consulting with one of his assistants, Badi overturned his decision, saying the ball came off the chest of the defender before striking his arm.

With Sipho Chaine hardly troubled by Rise and Shine, it seemed the hosts were eager to drag this match for a draw. The Sea Robbers were having none of that, though, as they found the lead a few minutes into the second half.

De Jong whipped in a telling cross from the right flank, and Mathebula intercepted the ball with a big punch. However, he didn’t entirely clear the danger, with the loose ball falling kindly for Mofokeng, who needed no second invite as he headed the ball into an empty net.

Having won the February Player of the Month award earlier, Mofokeng enjoyed a perfect start to March – the sort that must have pleased Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos ahead of naming his final squad for the Fifa World Cup preparation matches against Panama in Durban and Cape Town this month.

With news that Sundowns were leading at home against Arrows in Pretoria, Abdeslam Ouaddou threw more bodies in the final third, including bringing on Yanela Mbuthuma and Tshepang Moremi for Makgopa and de Jong.

Moremi was an instant livewire. But he squandered two early clear-cut chances, rounding Mathebula before City regrouped and cleared the danger. He was back on through on goal, but put his short-range effort into the side netting.

Pirates’ wastefulness was punished by City, with Bonginkosi Dlamini tapping home from close-range. That proved to be the wake-up call that Pirates needed as Patrick Maswanganyi restored Pirates’ lead from close-range as Pirates bagged all three points to continue with their title charge.

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