Bucs finally find formula to beat City
Orlando Pirates produced a breath-taking second half performance to eke out a deserved 2-1 victory away over Polokwane City, a team they had failed to beat in three successive seasons.
Second half goals by Brazilian defender Marcelo da Silva in the 58th minute and a brilliant freekick Zambian striker Justin Shonga in the 60th minute gave the Buccaneers three points that took them one point clear of Bidvest Wits on top of the Absa Premiership table.
Ayanda Nkili pulled one goal back from a corner kick for City in the 90th minute.
Pirates had struggled to find their top gear in the match with the first half 0-0 scoreline suggesting a seventh successive draw was in the offing before Da Silva’s first goals in Bucs colours and Shonga’s second goal of the season changed the complexion of the match.
It was Polokwane City, the home side, which had produced better chances in this match before Da Silva headed in the opening goal off George Chigova’s save.
Chigova had parried Nyasha Munetsi’s header to Da Silva’s path when the City goalkeeper was trying to save a free kick which was drilled in by Thabo Qalinge into Polokwane’s dangerous area.
Just as City were trying to recover from that setback Shonga struck again when his nicely curled freekick just outside the area beat Chigova in the near post for Bucs to take their points tally to 21 in 11 matches.
Last season the two sides played a 2-2 draw in Polokwane before drawing 1-1 at the Orlando Stadium in the second round.
Coming to Tuesday’s match there was little separating the sides as they both came boasting a seven-match unbeaten run.
Coming to Tuesday’s match both sides had gone for seven matches unbeaten