BUCS INTO 2ND SPOT
Orlando Pirates moved up to second spot on the Absa Premiership log standings following a 1-0 win over Ajax Cape Town at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Bernard Morrison’s early strike extended the Buccaneers’ unbeaten run in the league against their opponents to a whopping 13 league matches, with the Urban Warriors lingering in 15th place as they remain winless this season.
Pirates opened the scoring as early as the ninth minute through Morrison. The Ghanaian made no mistake from close range after the hosts failed to clear their lines from a long throw-in.
Thabo Mosadi squandered an opportunity to restore parity moments later, but the winger could only succeed in guiding his shot into the side-netting.
Chances were few and far between for the remainder of the half with Repo Malepe – on debut for the Urban Warriors – seeing his late effort sail over Wayne Sandilands’s crossbar.
Pirates had a golden chance to double their advantage four minutes following the interval, but failed to convert a 5 v 2 opportunity. Brandon Petersen pulled off a great save to deny Thabo Qalinge from point-black range.
Thamsanqa Gabuza had the ball in the back of the net on two occasions in the ensuing 19 minutes, but on both occasions the burly forward was denied by the linesman for being offside.
Musa Nyatama then saw his rasping shot sail wide of goal in the 77th minute as Ajax Cape Town held on for dear life.
Tashreeq Morris had a chance to rescue a point for the visitors in the 90th minute, but Sandilands was well positioned to deny the towering forward’s header from ending in the back of the net.
In the end the Buccaneers did enough to remain unbeaten after three fixtures.
Orlando Pirates 1
Morrison 9′
Ajax Cape Town 0
Orlando Pirates: Sandilands; Maela, Nyauza, Jele, Matlaba – Dube, Makola (Mobara 84′), Nyatama – Qalinge (Sarr 70′), Morrison (Lorch 58′), Gabuza
Ajax Cape Town: Petersen; Isaacs, Nhlapo, Booysen, Lebusa – Malepe, Mdabuka (Nxumalo 63′), Margeman (Nemukondeni 81′) – Mosadi, Makua (Mzwakali 66′), Morris
