Blow for Pirates as SuperSport win 3-0 in Mbombela

SuperSport United continued their remarkable domination of Orlando Pirates with an emphatic 3-0 Absa Premiership victory at Mbombela Stadium on Wednesday night that would have dealt a precipitate blow to the Buccaneers’ title-chasing confidence.

Bradley Grobler notched a goal-poacher’s brace with strikes in the 35th and 54th minutes, and provided the assist for substitute Ghampani Lungu’s third in the 69th.

SuperSport, as they so often can against a team they just seem to love coming up against, managed the tighter, more forceful performance, their midfield three of Dean Furman, Sipho Mbule and Teboho Mokoena snuffing Bucs out, and Grobler providing the sharp end.

Pirates, under pressure, paid for sloppiness in defence.

SuperSport have since 2014 lost just three out of 12 league and cup matches against Pirates. Their victories have included two in Nedbank Cup finals (3-2 and 4-1) and the infamous 6-1 league thrashing at Mbombela in November 2016.

Pirates had the first clearcut opportunity, young right wingback Thabiso Monyane’s cross from deep finding Fortune Makaringe to glance a header that forced a good diving save from Ronwen Williams. But SuperSport maintained the forward pressure that led to Bucs’ mistakes.

Wayne Sandilands, receiving a backpass from Justice Chabalala, attempted to roll a pass back to the defender, who slipped, allowing Mbule to advance and shoot wide.

It was another troublesome backpass that led to SuperSport’s opener. Monyane illadvisedly attempted to head back to Sandilands with United pressing on the edge of Bucs’ area, Grobler intercepted and got the touch past Pirates’ keeper.

Less than 10 minutes into the second half Grobler emphatically slammed in a second.

Again there was an element of a defensive error, as Mokoena, applying pressure on the edge of the box on the right, was challenged by Innocent Maela but was persistent, won the ball back in the 50/50, and touched through to Grobler to finish past Sandilands.

Grobler turned provider for United’s third, collecting the ball on the right, looking up and picking out the run of Lungu, free on the left, who struck in low past Sandilands.

● In Port Elizabeth Mamelodi Sundowns showed the effects off a weekend trip to the Equator as they conceded in the last minute to allow Chippa United a 1-1 draw.

Lebogang Maboe got a firsthalf opener for Sundowns, who should have made sure of the points but missed later chances only for Chippa new signing Meshack Maphangule to equalise on the stroke of full-time.

It was a rare chance for Chippa but they received reward for a never-say-die attitude while Sundowns will be bitterly disappointed by dropping two points.

Another highlight from the clash for Chippa was a strong debut on the right hand side for Gregory Damons, recently promoted up from their MDC side.

● Bidvest Wits saw off Polokwane City (1-0) at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.