Relebohile Mofokeng and Patrick ‘Tito’ Maswanganyi were on target as Orlando Pirates defeated Polokwane City 2-1 at a rainy old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday evening to remain on top of the log.
The Buccaneers are tied on 44 points with second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns who were victorious over Golden Arrows in Pretoria on the same night via goal difference.
Meanwhile, City remained in seventh place on the standings with 28 points from 19 outings.
Pirates kept the Polokwane City defense and goalkeeper Lindokuhle Mathebelua busy from the first whistle with Relebohile Mofokeng testing him inside the opening five minutes. There was a howler defending from City’s Lebohang Nkaki that saw Evidence Makgopa capitalising, however one on one with the keeper, the latter won the duel to deny the striker.
The visitors won a free kick after Mofokeng was fouled. Oswin Appollis stepped up but only shaved the top of the net from outside the box. There was also a chance for Thalente Mbatha which was deflected for a corner. Appollis was again guilty of missing opportunities shooting wide. Just before the 20th minute Makgopa set-up Andre De Jong who missed the target by an inch.
The home side who were dominated had Thabang Matuludi take aim at Sipho Chaine twice from outside the box but the Pirates keeper made easy saves on both occasions.
The most talked about moment from the first half came from a corner that Mofokeng and Deon Hotto played shot to find Mbatha in the box just before the break. Mbatha set up Makgopa on the goal line but he was denied by Tlou Nkwe who blocked with his body and had Pirates players plead for a penalty.
The two sides returned from the break unchanged with Mbatha almost breaking the deadlock two minutes into the second stanza, but he shot a ball from Appollis over the bar. A breakthrough came in the 52nd minute, Mathebula after making two super saves was beaten by a Mofokeng header.
Mofokeng could have made it 2-0 from a set-piece two minutes later but Mathebula denied him. Tshepang Moremi missed an opportunity to double the lead coming from the bench with just the net to beat his decision making let him down. Yanela Mbuthuma also came close to scoring and did Patrick Maswanganyi.
City didn’t give up despite minimal possession and were rewarded late in the game with Dlamini levelling matters but the celebrations didn’t last long as Tito had the final say scoring the winner.
