Pirates Edge Dikwena In Thriller

22 February 2012

Absa Premiership

Date: 22 February 2012

Teams: Platinum Stars - Orlando Pirates

Venue: Royal Bafokeng Stadium

Referee: Robert Sithole

Orlando Pirates moved up to fourth place on the Absa Premiership table as they edged struggling Platinum Stars 4-3 in Rustenburg on Wednesday.

Pirates should have got the opener on four minutes after Stars goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane failed to hold onto a regulation cross from Thulasizwe Mabuyane, but the onrushing Isaac Chansa surprisingly blasted the rebound into the stands.

At the opposite end, Dikwena had an equally good chance just a minute later, but a superb reaction save from Moeneeb Josephs kept Mduduzi Nyanda's shot from hitting the net.

On the half hour Josephs again provided a lesson in goalkeeping skills when he made a double save to first deny Nyanda who looked certain to score and then also Lindokuhle Mbatha's who banged the rebound on target.

The Sea Robbers then promptly counter-attacked and won a corner which resulted in the opening goal of the match. Innocent Mkhabela was the guilty party for firstly conceding the corner and then heading Dikgang Mabalane's set piece past his own keeper and into the net.

The lead, however, lasted just four minutes as Henrico Botes controlled the ball inside the Pirates area before dropping it into the path of Sibusiso Msomi who drilled it past Josephs.

With the teams going in search of the winner, both coaches made attacking substitutions at the hour mark as Tlou Segolela and Nathan Paulse were introduced by Pirates and Stars respectively.

Paulse was immediately in the action when he latched onto a pin-point through ball and held it up before passing into the area where Nyanda was on hand to expertly squeeze it past Josephs from an acute angle.

With 14 minutes to play the visitors were again level when Siyabonga Sangweni netted his second goal of the season with a thunderous header off Mabalane's cross. Three minutes later Pirates made it 3-2 when substitutes Benni McCarthy and Tokelo Rantie sliced open the defence with a one-two which resulted in the latter slotting home the goal.

McCarthy ensured his name would also be on the scoresheet as he outjumped some lacklustre defence to head home the fourth goal, four minutes from full time.

A stoppage-time headed goal from Lucas Thwala brought some respectability to the score and with literally the last play of the match, Josephs produced yet another brilliant save to ensure the three points for Pirates.

Platinum Stars: Siyabonga Mpontshane; Mbhuyiselo Sambu, Thabiso Semenya, Elias Ngwepe, Tsheto Moloto; Mduduzi Nyanda (Lucas Thwala 77), Innocent Mkhabela, Thuso Phala, Sibusiso Msomi, Lindokuhle Mbatha (Patric Malokase 85); Henrico Botes (Nathan Paulse 65).

Subs: Jackson Mabokgwane, Lantshene Phalane, Vuyo Mere, Terrence Mandaza.

Orlando Pirates: Moeneeb Josephs; Ruben Cloete, Siyabonga Sangweni, Bheki Nzunga, Lucky Lekgwathi; Luis Boa Morte (Tokelo Rantie 70), Thandani Ntshumayelo, Oupa Manyisa, Dikgang Mabalane; Isaac Chansa (Tlou Segolela 61), Thulasizwe Mbuyane (Benni McCarthy 74).

Subs: Senzo Meyiwa, Lizo Mjempu, Thabo Matlaba, Njabulo Manqana.

Goals: Innocent Mkhabela (Platinum Stars, own goal 31), Sibusiso Msomi (Platinum Stars, 35), Mduduzi Nyanda (Platinum Stars, 68), Siyabonga Sangweni (Orlando Pirates 76), Tokelo Rantie (Orlando Pirates 79), Benni McCarthy (Orlando Pirates 86), Lucas Thwala (Platinum Stars 90).