Pirates hammer Chilli Boys

Orlando Pirates moved to within two points of the top of the Absa Premiership Soccer League standings as they proved too strong for relegation-threatened Chippa United and beat them 4-2 at the Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night.

The rain soaked pitch was slippery and made for a difficult encounter but the gulf in class was all too apparent with Pirates scoring early.

Happy Jele had the easiest of goals after just three minutes as Thembinkosi Lorch floated in a freekick and then the captain found himself unmarked in between the Chippa defenders and simply headed the ball goalward to ensure the perfect start.

Chippa replied in the 23rd minute. Mark Mayambela, on the edge of the Pirates’ box, was looking to play in Tebogo Tlolane but over hit his pass, only for the attempted clearance to be botched by Jele and allow Tlolane to nick in and steal the loose ball before tucking away the equaliser.

It was somewhat against the run of play but suddenly promised a little more of a contest.

But then Phetso Maphanga headed his back pass goalward and watched in horror as goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi slipped and the ball trickled over the line to restore the Pirates lead.

Pirates got another fortuitous goal 11 minutes into the second half as Gerald Modisane brought down Vincent Pule in the box resulting in a penalty. Pule tucked away the resultant spot kick to make it 3-1.

But Chippa were right back in the game through another own goal. A corner kick hit Innocent Maela on the chest and it fell into his own goal to add to the bizarre list of events.

However, Kudakwashe Mahachi came on to seal the match with a strong finish from close range for his second game in as many matches with some eight minutes remaining.

A corner kick hit Innocent Maela on the chest and it fell into his own goal to add to the bizarre list of events