Pirates prevail in spectacular match

at Loftus Versfeld

● Orlando Pirates announced their genuine Absa Premiership title credentials, while enjoying a healthy dollop of revenge, outwitting Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 yesterday.

Ntsikelelo Nyauza and Mpho Makola’s second and 18th-minute strikes gave Pirates the lead, Percy Tau pulling one back in the 38th in a storming first half from both teams.

With the match wearing on, and Downs pushing to equalise, Luvuyo Memela produced an 83rd-minute winner for a Bucs side rewarded for a brave and clever game plan. The match was a spectacle.

Fans lament that not all games in the PSL can be like Sundowns-Pirates. But if they were, the league might have to fund a special insurance plan for supporters perishing from heart attacks.

The blistering pace, contrasting styles of Sundowns' tiki-taka pitched against the direct Pirates, and mind-blowing rate of chances created at either end, especially in the first half at a hot Loftus Versfeld, would have left even those in the stands struggling for breath.

This rejuvenated, competitive Pirates have had stretches this season without wins. These were largely due to missed chances, but also sometimes the approach by coach Milutin Sredojevic, coming out conservatively at home and trying to protect 1-0 leads away.

But Pirates' 3-1 home win against Baroka FC on Wednesday had breathed life into their title ambitions.

They had little to lose taking the game to the Brazilians. And they did that well.

The procession of chances in the first half came at a bewildering pace. Pirates probed first, earning a corner from which Musa Nyatama swung in a low cross that saw Luvuyo Memela's shot blocked and Nyauza sweep the loose ball in.

Then Sundowns piled on the chances, Themba Zwane’s close shot looping over off a prostate Abbubaker Mobara, and from the resultant corner Tiyani Mabunda’s volley was saved by Jackson Mabokgwane.

Pirates were in no-nonsense mood going in the other direction.

A stray pass from Motjeka Madisha was intercepted by Justin Shonga, who backheeled to find Makola, who slammed home low and hard from outside the box to make it 2-0.

Fans lament that not all games ... can be like Sundowns-Pirates

In a fine movement by Downs, Sibusiso Vilakazi fed Oupa Manyisa inside, Tebogo Langerman taking the ball through to shoot low and wide.

Where Pirates were direct, Sundowns picked chances, and finally scored as Tau found Themba Zwane on the right of Bucs' area and made the run for the return pass, side-footing past Mabokgwane.

Pirates' lead, overall, seemed deserved, though, for the manner in which their pace embarrassed Downs’ defence.

Three minutes before the break, with Brazilian defenders scattered on the ground, Memela’s shot thundered off the upright.

Both teams tightened defensively in the second half, so both had to work harder for openings.

In the 65th minute Tau’s header from the edge of the box snuck through for substitute Anthony Laffor to spurn a gift, blasting high.

Downs had most of the possession as the game wore on.

But Bucs intelligently and stubbornly defended their lead.