Pirates bring Arrows down to earth
Orlando Pirates . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2 (Makola 10, Memela 73) GoldenArrows ............. (0) 1 (Jooster 61)
IT WAS always going to be difficult for Golden Arrows to win in this one.
Orlando Pirates have a psychological advantage over them. They had beaten them before, 3-1 in their first league game of the season.
But Abafana Bes’thende were able to move on from that, producing four wins and a draw in their league matches since then.
In this encounter at Orlando Stadium they were brought down to earth again. They were made to remember what it’s like to lose again as Clinton Larsen and his charges failed to progress to the next round of the Telkom Knockout.
About an hour before kickoff, Larsen stood alongside his assistant, Mandla Ncikazi, inside the centre-circle of the pitch as their team prepared for their warm-up session.
The two were deep in conversation, as if trying to figure out where they had gone wrong in their last visit. In that match, Arrows failed to keep Pirates’ attacking players quiet, which kept them busy throughout that day.
That formidable side consisted of the likes of Oupa Manyisa, Mpho Makola and Tendai Ndoro, who were also present in this clash.
But again, the Arrows coach failed to keep them on a leash. His team could not keep up with the pace of the game. Pirates forced them to play deep, while enjoying freedom moving forward. The home side created most of the goal-scoring opportunities early on in the game, but it was their finishing that let them down.
Makola, however, was soon to rectify all that, as he unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box in the 10th minute to give his side the needed lead. Luvuyo Memela could have made it 2-0 just five minutes after the opener, however he fluffed the opportunity as he was dispossessed inside the area.
Ndoro, who had released the player with a superb pass, bellowed with frustration, wondering why he failed to punish the opposition.
The second period turned out to be a balanced affair as both sides took turns in pushing to outwit each other in the attacking third.
Pirates were the ones who were presented with the most chances, however, they were unable to convert, as Maxamilian Mbaeva proved a difficult figure to beat between the sticks.
Abafana Bes’thende pulled one back in the 61st minute with a cracker of a set-piece from Wayde Jooster, following a foul committed by Happy Jele on Mauricio Barrios on the edge of the box.
That goal, however, triggered a sense of urgency and aggression from a Pirates side which understands that the Telkom Knockout might be their only chance at silverware to celebrate their upcoming 80th anniversary next year.
That thought alone inspired Memela to produce a solo run which saw him surge through the opposition like a hot knife through butter and give Mbaeva no chance.