Assured Lions
Macuphu 18, Mashego 83 Morrison 26 pen, Shonga 73, 90+4, Lorch 85 DISREGARD ORLANDO Pirates in this Absa Premiership title race at your own peril. That was the loud statement the Buccaneers sent out yesterday as they dramatically cut Mamelodi Sundowns’ lead at the summit to just four points and set up a potentially explosive Soweto Derby on Saturday against Kaizer Chiefs who are also part of the chasing pack.
Pirates almost slipped up just like Amakhosi who had a chance to cut Sundowns’ lead to just three points on Saturday but lacked aggression and drew 0-0 with Bloemfontein Celtic.
Pirates had aggression aplenty at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium yesterday to bounce back from two disappointments to win against tough opposition.
This was a mini-reunion of some sort with nine people on the bench and the starting line-ups having represented both teams including the Chilli Boys’ coach Teboho Moloi who grew up at Pirates. Moloi having played for the club also served as assistant coach in various stints before cutting the umbilical cord to be his own man in Port Elizabeth. On the opposite side was Milutin Sredojevic, his friend and former colleague at Pirates more than a decade ago.
The former Pirates’ players at Chippa were the ones with more to prove following their ‘demotion’ from the Sea Robbers ship while the Buccaneers are chasing the Brazilians in the league. That resulted in a hotly-contested, entertaining match with neither side bullied into submission.
Katlego Mashego, a former Pirates striker, looked to have derailed the Buccaneers’ championship chase with a goal from his first touch of the match but Thembinkosi Lorch, a former Chippa star, rescued the visitors at the death to with a goal that secured three crucial points. Justin Shonga sealed the deal with a thunderbolt in an awkward angle. While that goal showed his power, the Zambian’s first goal showed his agility as he controlled the ball well before scoring in a congested box.
This win will give Pirates an extra spring in their step not only in the Soweto Derby but also in the final stretch of the league race, their fighting spirit and ability to turn on the magic showing they can be regarded as genuine title contenders.
The Buccaneers had to work for these points. They were behind early in the match after Mxolisi Macuphu scored from a tight angle. Sredojevic’s man responded quickly through the boot of Bernard Morrison who scored his third goal in two matches. The Ghanaian converted a penalty after Paseka Mako handled the ball in the box.
Chippa almost spoiled the party as Mashego scored from a scramble in the box to make it 2-2. But Pirates showed great character to recover from that setback and jump to second place in style.
This win and Chiefs’ coach Steve Komphela’s words that the Soweto Derby will produce fireworks could see the two fans finally spoiled on Saturday instead of watching the snooze-fests that have characterised this match.