Pirates narrow gap in Premiership
Orlando Pirates closed the gap on Mamelodi Sundowns at the top of the standings after beating Chippa United 4-2.
New man Shonga scores twice in win over Chippa United.
Orlando Pirates were able to close the gap on Mamelodi Sundowns at the top of the Absa Premiership standings after beating Chippa United 4-2 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium yesterday.
With the win, the Buccaneers are now just three points behind Sundowns after the Pretoria side drew 1-1 with City rivals SuperSport United over the weekend.
New recruit Justin Shonga, who got Man-of-the-Match on the day was superb for the visitors, scoring twice to help Bucs secure maximum points to take second place in the Premiership.
Defender Innocent Maela had an early chance when he found himself with only the keeper to beat, but was not able to beat Brighton Mhlongo.
With the Buccaneers starting the game brightly, striker Justin Shonga also had an opportunity to score from a set-piece, but his effort was not enough to beat Mhlongo, while Innocent Maela also waisted his opportunity.
Chippa almost opened the scoring when defender Ntsikelelo Nyauza made a mistake at the back, but former Bucs player Thabo Rakhale couldn’t capitalise.
After numerous times trying to unlock the Bucs defence, Mxolisi Macuphu managed to put the home side in the ead with a welltaken shot just 18 minutes into the game.
However, Pirates responded well with a penalty by Bernard Morrison after Chippa defender Paseka Mako was adjudged to have handled inside the box.
The Soweto giants went in front for the first time when Shonga scored from close range in the 73rd minute.
But, the lead didn’t last long, Katlego Mashego making it 2-2 after coming off the substitutes’ bench.
Chippa’s hopes of a point were dashed by Thembinkosi Lorch who rose highest to head home Maela’s cross two minutes later.
They were not yet done as Shonga completed his brace with a thunderous strike from an acute angle in added time to reduce the gap on league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns to three points.
Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela (above) has expressed his regret at his team’s failure to collect three points and edge closer to Absa Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns following an unnecessary goalless draw with Bloemfontein Celtic at FNB Stadium on Saturday night.
With Sundowns having played consecutive draws, it was Amakhosi’s biggest chance to launch their direct challenge for the title, and narrow the gap to two points.
“We regret the missed opportunity to narrow the gap,” said Komphela after the match. “The gap is still five points and we have to move from this regrettable result and look forward to the next game where we have to try again for the three points,” he added.
To be fair, the Glamour Boys played well but were just perhaps not aggressive enough or did not show enough desire.
“We lacked the killer instinct. We would have liked the players to have been more aggressive. Inasmuch as we might live to regret this we have to go and work on it.
“We told them at half time of the Sundowns result because we wanted to stimulate them and get that aggression out of them,” said Komphela.
The 50-year-old mentor admitted that the anxiety of the Sundowns result and the fact that they play Orlando Pirates in the next match had affected them.
“Previously we would ask if a match before the derby has gets affected? But now because of the Sundowns situation it can be referred to them.
“You tell the players that inasmuch as we didn’t win, we didn’t lose and we just need to take lessons from it – just be more clinical,” said Komphela.