Birds grab chances as Bucs flounder badly
ORLANDO Pirates paid the price for another night of profligacy in front of goal. They missed a myriad of chances and then saw Moroka Swallows snatch a late winner on the opening Saturday of the new league season.
Lerato Chabangu’s left-footed goal in the 81st minute handed Swallows three points against a Pirates team that dominated almost throughout, hit the woodwork three times but ran into a veritable roadblock in Swallows goalkeeper Etafia.
Pirates had gone behind early on as Swallows took a surprise lead, then took control, setting up several chances that they conspired to squander. Kermit Erasmus and Mpho Makola missed sitters and Etafia made several decisive stops.
Swallows’ lead caught everyone by surprise as debutant Lantshene Phalani hit a stinging long-range goal with the help of a wicked deflection off Pirates skipper Siyabonga Sangweni.
It was Sangweni who effectively set up the chance for the Swallows new boy as his clearing header fell at the feet of Phalani, who whistled the ball right back with venom, striking Sangweni on the way through and leaving Pirates keeper Senzo Meyiwa wrong-footed.
The Birds were feisty in the opening exchanges and full of initiative. But not long after the goal they reverted to type and fell back defensively, allowing Pirates to come at them.
Inevitably something had to break but it took a while for the Buccaneers to engineer the breakthrough — with help from their opponents.
First Makola hit a swerving shot from just outside the penalty area onto the crossbar and then Rooi Mahamutsa missed a heading opportunity in front of goal from Erasmus’s deft chip.
On the half-hour mark, some super passing saw Daine Klate push a little ball in for Erasmus, who went one-on-one with Etafia but steered his effort inches wide.
The equaliser came just four minutes later as Etafia slipped with a goal kick, miskicking the ball straight at Erasmus. He was impeded by Rudi Isaacs as he was trying to get a shot in and referee Robert Smith pointed to the spot.
The defensive folly was punished by Oupa Manyisa from the resultant spot kick.
Klate had a chance to score after Erasmus set him up with a delightful pass but Etafia came off his line to make a fine stop.
Erasmus’s pass in the 55th minute set Makola up for a tapin but he drove his effort over the top. Then came two efforts onto the woodwork from Rooi Mahamutsa’s header and Daine Kleate’s swerving free kick.
Substitute Chabangu, with Swallows’ only chance of the second half, snatched victory after a quick counterattack. He squeezed past three defenders and hammered the ball home.