Orlando Pirates suffered defeat on their return to the Marbella Football Center, going down 2-0 in Friday’s pre-season friendly against English side Bolton Wanderers.
Despite the disappointment on the scoreboard, it was a much-needed exercise for the Soweto Giants with 22 players – including nine new signings – getting an opportunity in the first of four Friendly matches scheduled for this year’s Spanish excursion.
Back in Malaga for the third year running, the Buccaneers found chances hard to come by initially despite enjoying their fair share of ball possession. The Whites meanwhile did find an opportunity in the opening 10 minutes through a header from centre-back Josh Dacres-Cogley who sent the ball looping over the crossbar.
A well-organised defensive effort from the English side kept Pirates at bay throughout the opening quarter, and it was only after the first water break where they found a way through following some neat interplay between Relebohile Mofokeng and Sipho Mbule before the new signing’s effort at goal was directed out for a corner. The midfielder was at it again soon after, this time firing at goal from outside the box and sending his effort narrowly wide.
As halftime approached, the Buccaneers were made to rue not making the most of that period of ascendancy as the Whites edged ahead from a set piece. Winger Charlie Warren had the final touch as he placed the ball past Sipho Chaine into the net after getting on the end of a ball delivered by George Thomason.
Pirates went into the break trailing, with a different eleven emerging from the tunnel ahead of the second half. They had another bright spell early on with Sinoxolo Kwayiba getting close to an equaliser after neat interplay between the strike pair of Tshegofatso Mabasa and Evidence Makgopa in the 50th minute.
The next opportunity presented itself to the Soweto Giants, with Kwayiba again in the thick of the action when he turned possession over deep in opposition territory before failing to connect with Makgopa.
Bolton proved more clinical at the other end as they made it 2-0 from another set piece in the 62nd minute as former Scotland youth international George Johnston rose up to nod in from close range.
The Buccaneers’ efforts at clawing their way back into the contest met some resistance from the English side, who did not allow them any real chances at goal for the best part of the closing half hour. Midfielder Masindi Nemtajela did manage a shot in the game’s dying moments, but his effort was deflected out for a corner.
Kwayiba looked to take matters into his own hands late on as he fired at goal from a long way out, with his shot floating well over the crossbar. That proved to be the last opportunity for Pirates as the final whistle sounded, confirming defeat in the Marbella heat.
They remain on the Spanish coast for yet another fixture, as they are scheduled to take on Cypriot outfit Pafos on Sunday.
Pirates XI: Chaine (Buthelezi 46’), Sibisi (Xoki 46’), Mbokazi (Seema 46’), Shandu (Mashiloane 46’), Hotto (Ndaba 46’), Nduli (Selepe 46’), Mbule (Nemtajela 46’), Maswanganyi (Kwayiba 46’), Moremi (Appollis 46’), Mofokeng (Makgopa 46’), Radiopane (Mabasa 46’).
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