Buccaneers win — finally
● Since Josef Zinnbauer’s nine-match unbeaten run was ended by Kaizer Chiefs in February when Pirates lost 1-0, there has been no joy for the German coach.
That bad run ended in the sixth match at Ellis Park yesterday when goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands pulled off two stupendous second-half penalty saves from Bradley Grobler and Thamsanqa Gabuza to help Bucs beat SuperSport United.
The win via Vincent Pule’s 29th-minute opener and Zakhele Lepasa’s first goal (58th minute) raised a glimmer of hope of Zinnbauer’s team finishing third and qualifying for next season’s Caf Confederation Cup.
But Bucs’ qualification for the Confed Cup will depend on what they do in their last two matches against Maritzburg United and Stellenbosch, while hoping SuperSport and Bidvest Wits don’t win theirs. Pirates moved from fifth to fourth with yesterday’s win.
The Buccaneers, who looked to challenge for Premiership honours after Zinnbauer’s arrival in December, had picked up only four points from a possible 15 after the Chiefs defeat and were not given a chance to beat a team that had thrashed them 3-0 in the first round of this campaign.
When Bucs allowed SuperSport’s Luke Fleurs to head in Aubrey Modiba’s corner kick to cancel Pule’s goal in the 41st minute, it looked bleak for Zinnbauer’s charges.
The irony of Pirates’ struggle is that they have a decent team that once looked capable of challenging Chiefs and Sundowns for the league title.
Bucs’ good run coincided with their chief striker, Gabadinho Mhango, taking his league tally to 14.
After that it’s been dark for the Buccaneers. Mhango’s misfiring should have seen another player stepping up to the plate but no-one seems willing nor capable of scoring goals, with only four, including yesterday’s, slotted since their last win against Leopards.
That’s a far cry from the 15 goals that Bucs scored in Zinnbauer’s first nine matches in which he won eight games and drew one.
With Bucs’ poor run having been curtailed yesterday, Zinnbauer will be hoping the dark cloud has finally been lifted.
For SuperSport, who kept third despite yesterday’s defeat, winning their last two matches against Baroka and Cape Town City will ensure they have the last laugh over Bucs as they will go to the Confed Cup.
● In other matches played yesterday, Maritzburg United strengthened their position in the top eight after a 1-1 draw against Highlands Park, while Fragrie Lakay scored a hattrick as Cape Town City trashed Lamontville Golden Arrows 4-1.