Orlando Pirates returned to winning ways in the DStv Premiership as they overpowered Maritzburg United 2-0 on Friday evening at Orlando Stadium.
In-form Monnapule Saleng and Terrence Dzvukamanja were on target in each half for the Sea Robbers as they made it three victories out of four.
PIRATES’ LATE FIRST-HALF GOAL
It started as a slow encounter. Both teams were creating goal-scoring opportunities. However, they couldn’t hit the target.
The home side were the first to threaten at goal in the second minute. Bandile Shandu’s shot went wide. Pirates loanee Kwame Peprah almost hurt his mother club with an assist to Amadou Soukouna, but the latter failed to find the back of the net.
In the 14th minute, Peprah combined well with Soukouna again, however, the French footballer fired his shot wide and over the bar.
37 minutes into the match, Phillip Ndlondlo tried his luck from 35 yards, but his shot went too high.
The Soweto giants were finally rewarded in the dying minutes of the first half. Monnapule Saleng netted his fifth league goal of the season after being set up by Shandu.
MARITZBURG PILING PRESSURE
At the beginning of the first half, the visitors started piling pressure to get back into the game. Thabiso Monyane cleared Wayde Jooste’s ball, then moments later, Rowan Human’s header couldn’t connect well with Jooste’s pass.
Bradley Cross tried to level matters with a header, only for his effort to go wide of the far post.
Ndlondlo came close to doubling Pirates’ lead in the 70th minute, but he was unfortunate as his effort hit the woodwork.
Terrence Dzvukamanja finally made it 2-0 with an excellent diving header, thanks to a well-taken set piece by Saleng.
The visitors got one back through Tumelo Njoti with five minutes left till full time with a beautiful strike outside the box.
The victory saw Pirates climb to third in the log standings with 31 points from 20 matches. On the other end, the Team of Choice remain in the relegation zone, positioned 15th. They are three points above bottom-placed Marumo Gallants.
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