Pirates do the job against Stellies to keep pressure on Sundowns

Orlando Pirates responded to the pressure on them with a clinical 2-0 Betway Premiership victory against Stellenbosch FC on Tuesday night that switched the stress straight back onto leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.

Quick-fire goals just before the break by Evidence Makgopa in the 42^nd minute and Patrick Maswanganyi two minutes into first-half added time earned Bucs a crucial three points that had a packed Athlone Stadium in full voice and song.

It remains advantage Mamelodi Sundowns in a thrilling, nail-biting title race of swinging fortunes that has gripped the football-loving public, but only just.

The Brazilians (64 points from 27 games) hold a two-point lead over the Buccaneers, as the country’s focus and all eyes switch to Loftus Versfeld, where Sundowns host third-placed Kaizer Chiefs in a tricky, huge clash on Wednesday (7.30pm).

Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou’s Pirates were professional and dynamic in breaking down Gavin Hunt’s doughty but unadventurous Stellies with pace, skill and movement.

Bucs came out on the front foot from the kickoff. They had two chances to land the early blow, both unsuccessful.

Relebohile Mofokeng’s cross from deep on the left found Oswin Appollis on the edge of the box who slipped a low shot wide. Stellies keeper Sage Stephens had to make a sharp save as a Bucs cross came off the back of the Cape side’s Nigerian right-back Enyinnaya Godswill towards his own goal.

Unable to take an early lead, Pirates consolidated, then piled on the pressure towards the break. They would have been happy to go to the change rooms with one late first-half goal, but far more pleased to have got two. Makgopa and Maswanganyi combined for both.

Bucs earned a free kick outside the box towards the right. Maswanganyi’s delivery found Makgopa up free to head past Sage Stephens.

Then, from Maswanganyi’s cross from the right, Makgopa, beating offside and alone upfront, and Stephens both went up for the ball. Both missed and the goal was credited to Maswanganyi.

With their two-goal advantage Pirates could come out from the break keeping possession and biding their time for the openings that would come if Stellies pushed up to try to get back into the game.

The scorers¸ Makgopa and Maswanganyi, were replaced by central midfielder Masindi Nemtajela and big striker Yanela Mbuthuma in the 69^th as Ouaddou appeared to aim to close things up for the last 20 minutes.

Such situations can open opportunities for the side with nothing to lose pressing for chances. In the 77^th Devin Titus won the ball on the right and crossed, Genino Palace’s touch going via a feint save by Sipho Chaine onto the left upright.

Pirates also hit the woodwork in added time, young talent Cemran Dansin, who had come off the bench, producing a stunning drive out of nowhere onto Stephens’ left upright.

Also on Tuesday night, promoted Orbit College earned a potential lifeline in their desperate relegation battle by beating Magesi FC 2-1 to move off bottom place.

Magesi (21 points from 27 games), who went into the game in 14th place, slipped to 15th, one above now bottom-placed Marumo Gallants (21 from 26). Orbit (23 from 27) jumped to third-last.

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