Bucs start season with hat-trick from Ndoro

ORLANDO Pirates romped to a 3-1 win over Golden Arrows in Soweto last night, with Tendai Ndoro’s hat-trick getting the Buccaneers off to a winning start in the new Absa Premiership season.

The Zimbabwean scored all of his goals in the second half, while Abafana Bes’thende – whose consolation strike came via Nduduzo Sibiya – will rue their missed opportunities in a dominant first-half performance when they should have put the hosts to the sword.

Pirates enjoyed a stronger start to the game and had the first shot on goal four minutes in when Oupa Manyisa’s long range effort was parried away by Arrows goalkeeper Max Mbaeva, but after that it was the away side which looked far more dangerous in attack.

Abafana Bes’thende’s pace and direct play down the flanks caused endless problems for Bucs in the first half, with the front four of Wayde Jooste, Lerato Lamola, Kuda Mahachi and Nduduzo Sibiya constantly looking dangerous, though they often lacked the killer instinct in the danger area to punish their hosts.

Pirates made a tactical change at the start of the second half, sending on Thabo Qalinge in place of Bernard Morrison, but it was their other winger, Thabo Rakhale, who opened up Arrows defence in the 49th minute to help Tendai Ndoro break the deadlock.

Rakhale enjoyed a clever exchange of passes with Mpho Makola down the right before squaring for Ndoro, who provided a neat finish past Mbaeva to make it 1-0 to the Buccaneers.

Pirates’ lead lasted just 12 minutes, with Arrows hitting back just after the hour mark. Felipe Ovono spilled a tame low cross from the left flank and Mahachi hit the post from the loose ball – the chance appeared to be gone, but Sibiya reacted quickest to the rebound to score with a low shot.

Ndoro restored Bucs’ advantage in the 67th minute, scoring his second goal with a downward header that got the better of Mbaeva after a pin-point free kick by Makola – though Arrows’ marking in the box was diabolical.

The hat-trick was completed with just under 15 minutes of regulation time to play, with great combination play between Makola and Thabiso Kutumela before a curling side-foot shot sent the ball into the corner. — Backpagetxt