BUCS SHOOT INTO THE QUARTERS
IT ‘RAINED’ beautiful goals here yesterday as the Buccaneers booked their place in the Telkom Knockout quarterfinal with this narrow victory.
Favourites going into this clash given their 3-1 defeat of Abafana Bes’thende in the opening match of the league at the same venue, Pirates didn’t have it easy though.
And it took a cracker from Mpho Makola and a brilliant solo effort by Luvuyo Memela to see them get rid of a stubborn Arrows side that delivered a masterpiece goal of their own.
Having gone down 1-0 to Makola’s scorcher from outside the box on the quarter-hour mark, Arrows restored parity via a fantastic free kick on the edge of the penalty area courtesy of Wayde Jooste.
Following that defeat by Pirates in the league, Arrows dusted themselves off and went on to produce four wins and a draw to be joint top of the table with Kaizer Chiefs.
It was thus with great confidence that they made the trip up to the Highveld.
And before the match, coach Clinton Larsen and his assistant Mandla Ncikazi could be seen in animated discussion in the centre-circle.
Whatever they were planning though didn’t seem to work as Pirates took the initiative and dominated play only to fail in the final third.
But Arrows could not keep up with the pace of game. Pirates forced them to play deep, while enjoying freedom moving forward.
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. 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.
Tendai Ndoro, who had released Makola 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 one another in the attacking third. Pirates were the ones who were created the most chances but they were unable to convert as Maxamilian Mbaeva proved a difficult figure to beat between the sticks.
Abafana Bes’thende equalised with a cracker of a set-piece by ooster, 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 who are keen to get some silverware as they look ahead to celebrating their upcoming 80th anniversary next year.
That thought alone inspired Memela to produce a solo run that saw him cutting through the opposition like a hot knife through butter and slot past the hapless Mbaeva for what turned out to be the winner.