Orlando Pirates have climbed into third spot on the DStv Premiership log after beating Golden Arrows 2-1 on Sunday at the packed Mpumalanga Stadium.
The Buccaneers extended their unbeaten run to six games, making it five wins with a well-deserved win over struggling Arrows.
The home side have now lost six successive games – a run that has seen them drop down the log into seventh.
The game at Hammarsdale was low on highlights in the opening half, with Karim Kimvuidi sending a shot from outside the box well wide early in the game.
But Pirates went ahead after 29 minutes, when Patrick Maswanganyi stepped up to slot home a penalty after Gladwin Shitolo had brought down Kimvuidi with a clumsy challenge inside the box.
Nkosinathi Sibisi brought down Ryan Moon inside the box to allow Arrows to equalise just before the break, with Nduduzo Sibiya sending Melusi Buthelezi the wrong way – the goal ended Buthelezi’s run of five successive clean sheets.
Ndlondlo missed a sitter three minutes into the second half after being set up superbly by Evidence Makgopa, putting his shot from the penalty spot well wide.
Kimvuidi then scored his first-ever Premier Soccer League goal after a sweet dummy inside the box opened up some space for him to retake the lead.
This time, though, Pirates didn’t let the lead slip, collecting three points in KwaZulu-Natal as Thembinkosi Lorch, who returned to the squad for the first time since his suspension, had a late goal ruled out due to a questionable offside call – it was the third offside goal Pirates scored on the day.
The win sees Pirates climb to 25 points on the log, level with Cape Town City but ahead on goal difference, while Arrows stayed seventh with 20 points.
