Pirates set sail
OFF AND RUNNING: JONEVRET’S MEN WERE BUZZING IN LAST-32 CLASH
Wome, Makola, Gabuza put the skids under the Bees.
Orlando Pirates registered their first victory this year following a 3-1 win over ABC Motsepe League side EC Bees in the last-32 of the Nedbank Cup at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in East London yesterday.
The beleaguered Buccaneers finally broke their streak of 12 games without a win in all competitions, having last won a match in 2016.
The win was also coach Kjell Jonevret’s first victory at the club after four games in charge.
Goals from Dove Wome, Mpho Makola and Thamsanqa Gabuza gave the team a much-needed confidence boost following a poor run in the league, which sees the team currently outside the top half of the league table.
In a clash labelled as “David v Goliath”, the Soweto giants came into this tie as favourites. But looking back at the history of the competition, small teams have managed to spring an upset on big teams.
However, Pirates didn’t disappoint and had a bright start to the game, finding the net as early as the 15th minute, courtesy of Wome, who scored his third goal since joining Pirates from SuperSport United.
Two minutes later, Bernard Morrison could have easily made it 2-0, but his shot hit the bar from close range.
Bees went in search for an equaliser, but the visitors proved too strong for the third-tier side.
Bucs scored a second through a Makola set-piece in the 52nd minute.
Some sloppy defending in the Pirates back-line saw Bongani Chikila pull one back for the Eastern Cape outfit, giving them some hope of coming back into the match.
But Gabuza sealed the result in the 67th minute.
With the game all done and dusted, Jonevret introduced youngster Yusuf Maart, who was given his debut when he came on for skipper Oupa Manyisa with five minutes left.
With the last-16 secured for the Buccaneers, they now have their eyes firmly on securing back-toback wins when they take on Free State Stars in the league on April 1 at the James Motlatsi Stadium.