Arrows hit the mark against Pirates
A GLOOMY day in Durban ended on a bright note for Golden Arrows after they blitzed Orlando Pirates 2-1 at Moses Mabhida Stadium and qualified for next season’s MTN8 competition.
Two second half goals cancelled Thamsanqa Gabuza’s opener for Pirates and earned them a 10th win of the season. More importantly it lifted Arrows one place up the standings to eighth position, which helped them achieve their target of a top eight finish.
The winner came in optional time courtesy of substitute striker Knox Mutizwa who went on with five minutes left. The Zimbabwean forward finished off a breakaway move to swing the match in the home team’s favour after Lerato Lamola had equalised in the 61st minute.
Pirates simply buckled under the pressure imposed by their hosts to end a miserable season in 11th spot. They will however have a shot at ending their 80th anniversary on a high when they tackle Supersport United in the Nedbank Cup final at the same ground late next month.
Pirates enjoyed a comfortable lead in the first half after striker Thamsanqa Gabuza’s 19th minute header off Mpho Makola’s corner kick. His fourth goal of the season comes at the right time, following his inclusion in the Bafana Bafana squad for the opening Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Nigeria on June 10.
The goal against his old club will also boost his confidence, silence criticism of his national team selection, and strengthen Pirates’ attacking options for next month’s final.
Gabuza kept the Arrows defence busy by spearheading the Bucs attack, and drew strike partner Tendai Ndoro and winger Thabo Rakhale into danger areas but they failed to press home the Ajax Cape Town 0 Baroka FC 1 Golden Arrows 2 Orlando Pirates 1 Kaizer Chief 1 Wits 0 Highlands Park 2 Mamelodi Sundowns 2 Polokwane City 4 Cape Town City 2 Supersport United 0 Platinum Stars 1 Maritzburg United 1 Bloemfontein Celtic 1 Free State Stars 0 Chippa United 0
P W D L F Apts Wits .......................... 30 18 6 6 47 22 60 Mamelodi Sundowns30 16 9 5 52 20 57 Cape Town City ........ 30 16 7 7 47 35 55 Kaizer Chiefs ........... 30 13 11 6 39 28 50 Supersport United... 30 12 12 6 42 29 48 Polokwane City ........ 30 10 13 7 36 34 43 Maritzburg United .... 30 9 1110 31 35 38 Golden Arrows ......... 30 10 8 12 32 44 38 Platinum Stars ......... 30 9 1011 33 32 37 Ajax Cape Town ....... 30 9 9 12 29 35 36 Orlando Pirates ........ 30 6 15 9 29 40 33 Bloemfontein Celtic.. 30 5 1411 16 28 29 Chippa United .......... 30 6 1014 27 32 28 Free State Stars ....... 30 6 1014 26 37 28 Baroka FC ................ 30 5 1312 26 43 28 Highlands Park ........ 30 5 1213 26 44 27 advantage.
Ndoro was substituted by Ayanda Nkosi midway through the second half, which ended his chance of overtaking Cape Town City’s Lebogang Manyama for the league’s top scorer accolade. Going into yesterday’s final round of matches the Zimbabwean was on 12 goals, one behind Manyama. However he had a quiet second half of the season, scoring one goal this year, and it was no surprise when Nkosi took his place with 20 minutes to play. Even with Ndoro off form, Pirates should have had a healthier halftime lead. Three minutes before the break Makola delivered another pinpoint corner kick which defender Ayanda Gcaba headed onto the bar.
With that opportunity spurned, Pirates allowed Arrows back into the tie. The home side went close to levelling when captain Musa Bilankulu drove goalwards from midfield and powered a free header over in the 47th minute.
Twenty minutes later it was 1-1. Then out of nowhere striker Lerato Lamola beat Jackson Mabokgwane with an acrobatic shot. That gave Arrows impetus and they were able to push for the winner.