Orlando Pirates brushed off their CAF Champions League nightmare with a 1-0 victory over Polokwane City FC in the Betway Premiership on Wednesday night at Orlando Stadium.
The Soweto giants secured their sixth consecutive league win, heating up the title chase and keeping them firmly in third place with 18 points from eight matches.
The victory came as a much-needed morale boost. The Sea Robbers had to quickly shift focus back to league action after suffering a heavy 3-0 defeat to Saint-Eloi Lupopo in the first-leg of the CAF Champions League Second Preliminary Round in Lubumbashi over the weekend. Facing a potential early exit from the Champions League, where they need to score more than three goals in the return leg this Saturday, Pirates were determined to return to winning ways against Rise and Shine.
Coming into the clash on a five-match winning run, Pirates quickly imposed themselves on the Limpopo-based side, dominating the opening minutes with numerous attacks and scoring chances.
TSHEPANG MOREMI SCORED THE SOLITARY GOAL FOR PIRATES
The Ghosts broke the deadlock in the 6th minute courtesy of in-form winger Tshepang Moremi, who received a square pass from Oswin Appollis to convert with his weaker foot.
Pirates took a deserved one-goal lead into the break after dominating both possession and scoring opportunities.
However, the start of the second half saw Polokwane City grow in confidence, particularly unsettling the home side with dangerous set pieces.
Bucs Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side soon regained control, and in the 58th minute, they came agonizingly close to doubling their lead. A superb pass from Patrick Maswanganyi set up Evidence Makgopa, whose close-range effort unfortunately rattled the upright.
Seeking to press for the crucial second goal, Pirates made a double substitution, withdrawing Makgopa and the goalscorer Moremi for Yanela Mbuthuma and Kabelo Dlamini. Mbuthuma, the former Richards Bay striker, almost made an immediate impact but blasted his shot off target.
Despite late efforts from the visiting team to salvage a point, the Buccaneers’ defence held firm. Pirates stood resolute at the back, securing all three points thanks to Moremi’s decisive first-half strike.
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