PIRATES SINK CHIPPA IN SIX-GOAL THRILLER
Orlando Pirates overcame Chippa United 4-2 in an Absa Premiership match at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Tuesday.
The victory saw the Buccaneers remain second on the league standings – two points behind the leaders Bidvest Wits – while the Chilli Boys remained in the relegation play-off spot (15th).
The Buccaneers started the match brightly and they managed to grab an early goal with the Chilli Boys defence caught ball-watching just three minutes into the game.
Happy Jele headed home from Thembinkosi Lorch’s free-kick to make it 1-0 to Pirates from close range, much to the delight of the home crowd.
The visitors then pushed forward in numbers as they looked to level matters, with Chippa attacking midfielder Mark Mayambela working hard down the right-hand side.
The former Pirates winger’s pass went through Jele and found Tebogo Tlolane, who hit the back of the net to make it 1-1 in the 22nd minute.
However, Bucs upped the tempo after conceding with the half-hour mark approaching and they forced the Chilli Boys to concede through an own-goal.
Left-back Phetso Maphanga, who recently rejoined Chippa from Pirates, netted an unfortunate own-goal to make it 2-1 to the hosts in the 28th minute.
Chippa coach Joel Masutha reacted by pulling out Maphanga and he introduced defender Boikanyo Komane seven minutes later.
The visitors were then able to contain the home side and Pirates were leading 2-1 at the interval.
Pirates continued to launch attacks after the restart – piling pressure on the Chippa defence, which conceded a penalty when Vincent Pule was fouled by Gerard Modisane in the box.
South Africa international Pule then dusted himself down and hit the back of the net from the spot-kick to make it make it 3-1 to Pirates four minutes before the hour-mark.
However, the Bucs defence went to sleep and they scored an own-goal in the 67th minute when Innocent Maela allowed the ball to roll on his chest and into the back of the net to make it 3-2.
Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic then brought on Kudakwashe Mahachi, who proved to be an inspired substitute, as he scored with six minutes left to seal the hosts’ 4-2 win over Chippa on the night.
Pirates (2) 4 (Jele 4′, Maphanga og 28′, Pule, 56′, Mahachi 84′)
Chippa (1) 2 (Tlolane 23′, Maela og 67′)
Pirates: Mpontshane, Jele, Munetsi, Ndengane, Mbekile, Maela, Mlambo, Nyatama (Makola 61′), Pule, Lorch (Shonga 86′), Mulenga (83′).
Chippa:Akpeyi, Macheke, Nsabiyumva, Modisane, Maphanga (Komane 35′), Malepe, Makobela, Sangweni (Mbenyane 46′), Tlolane, Mayambela (Lentjies 64′), R.Manzini.
