Bleak picture painted by stats

Orlando Pirates have done well at the back to keep six clean sheets in the DStv Premiership, but things have not gone so well at the opposite end of the pitch for them. With just six goals in 10 matches, there is growing concern in the striking department for the side. By this time last season, they had scored 11 goals. Only two strikers have found the back of the net for the Buccaneers this season and both of them – Eva Nga and Zakhele Lepasa – have

one goal to show for their efforts. The team does not have an outright top scorer this season, with five players on one goal this season, with the other being an own goal from TS Galaxy defender Given Msimango. The other strikes netted by the Houghton-based outfit have been contributed by Deon Hotto, Nkosinathi Sibisi and Paseka Mako.

A major concern is that the side has scored more than one goal in a match this season on only one occasion, when they beat the Rockets 2-0. Of the 10 league matches played, Pirates have drawn a blank in front of goal five times – against Richards Bay, Sekhukhune United, Maritzburg United, SuperSport United and Chippa United. All the six goals they’ve scored were registered in the first half. They are yet to score a goal in the second half this season, which must be a major concern for coach Jose Riveiro, who has been asked time and again about the club’s scoring problem. In five home matches, the team has netted five goals, which means they have only found the back of the net once away from home, which was back in August against Stellenbosch. These statistics show just how much the club is struggling in the final third of the pitch and this could be their downfall this season if they do not find solutions to the problem as soon as possible.