Orlando Pirates claimed maximum points in their Betway Premiership clash with Chippa United, courtesy of a header from Nkosinathi Sibisi.
With this victory, Pirates stay in second place on the league table with 39 points from 17 matches, keeping the pressure on league leaders Sundowns, who dropped points in their match against Golden Arrows.
Orlando Pirates get back to winning ways with victory against Chippa
A Nkosinathi Sibisi header ensured Orlando Pirates returned to winning ways as they defeated Chippa United 1-0 in a Betway Premiership match.
The victory was a welcome back gift for coach Jose Riveiro, who returned to the technical bench after serving a suspension during their previous match, which saw the Buccaneers lose 2-0 to Marumo Gallants.
With this win, Pirates remain in second place on the league standings, having accumulated 39 points from 17 matches.
Meanwhile, the loss for Chippa was a significant blow to their efforts to climb into the top half of the table. The Eastern Cape-based club sits in ninth place with 22 points from 19 games.
The match between the two teams was fairly balanced, with a few chances created at both ends, particularly in the first half. However, Pirates had the better of the opportunities and could have taken the lead as early as the 15th minute, but Kabelo Dlamini wasted a golden chance.
Chippa also looked threatening, especially with Giovanni Philander on the attack. The winger had a go at goal in the 22nd minute, but his attempted curler went wide, and he squandered another opportunity just two minutes later.
The best chance of the half fell to striker Tshegofatso Mabasa in the 38th minute, but his shot went straight to Chilli Boys goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
With the match seemingly heading into halftime at 0-0, Pirates’ captain for the night, Sibisi, broke the deadlock with a well-taken header from a corner-kick to beat Nwabali at his near post, sending the Buccaneers into the break with a 1-0 lead.
With the home side chasing the game, coach Thabo September made changes, introducing fresh legs in attack by bringing on Eva Nga and Rondaldo Maarman to try and turn things around in the second half.
However, limited opportunities came their way, with Maarman’s first shot of the match going straight to Pirates keeper Melusi Buthelezi, who was filling in for the suspended Sipho Chaine.
In the 78th minute, the Buccaneers thought they had scored their second goal of the match after substitute Goodman Mosele slotted in Mohau Nkota’s cross. However, the referee ruled that the ball had gone out of play before the cross.
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With just a few minutes left in the game, Chippa pushed for an equalizer, but the Pirates defence held firm until the final whistle, securing all three points for the visitors.
Golden Arrows claim valuable point as Manqoba Mngqithi comes back to haunt Sundowns
Golden Arrows secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw against league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns at Mpumalanga Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The match marked Manqoba Mngqithi’s first in charge of Abafana Bes’thende after his departure from Sundowns in December.
Arrows dominated the opening ten minutes, creating four early chances. Gladwin Shitolo and Olwethu Ncube missed opportunities within the first two minutes, while Ryan Moon’s effort was denied by Sundowns goalkeeper Dennis Onyango.
Nqobeko Dlamini also attempted a long-range pass, but it failed to reach its target.
Sundowns responded after the 10th minute, with Peter Shalulile missing two chances before Lucas Ribeiro’s long-range effort in the 18th minute was saved by Isima Watenga.
The breakthrough came after the half-hour mark when Sbonelo Cele delivered a set-piece, allowing Keenan Phillips to head in the opener for Golden Arrows.
However, Phillips went from hero to villain just before half-time, conceding a penalty for handling the ball after an Aubrey Modiba pass. Ribeiro calmly converted, securing his 13th goal of the season.
Both sides made changes at the break, with Sundowns introducing Lucas Suarez and Teboho Mokoena, while Arrows brought on Knox Mutizwa and Thokozani Lukhele.
The second half saw chances at both ends – Thapelo Morena’s shot was denied by Watenga in the 47th minute, and Nduduzo Sibiya’s 78th-minute free-kick was punched away by Onyango.
Ribeiro missed a late chance to seal the win in the 85th minute, while Arthur Sales was also denied near the end.
Despite the draw, Sundowns remain top of the table with 55 points from 21 matches, while Golden Arrows sit in 11th place with 21 points from 17 games.