New signing Bienvenu Eva Nga handed Jose Riveiro a winning start as Orlando Pirates defeated Swallows FC 1-0 in their DStv Premiership opener.
DStv Premiership
Result: Orlando Pirates 1-0 Swallows
Date: 06 August 2022
Venue: Orlando Stadium
Jose Riveiro handed debuts to Bienvenu Eva Nga, Tapelo Xoki and Nkosinathi Sibisi, while Gregory Damons, Waseem Isaacs and Kwanda Mngonyama made their first appearances for the Birds.
There was an alteration in the Swallows dugout for the day, as Musa Nyatama took charge of the side as Dylan Kerr awaits his work permit.
Eva Nga could have settled the nerves early on after being slipped through on goal by Kabelo Dlamini, but the Cameroonian striker blazed over with only goalkeeper Andile Mbanjwa to beat.
The Cameroonian striker did make up for the miss on 10 minutes by getting a debut goal for the Buccaneers after being set up by Dlamini once again.
Swallows, meanwhile, had no answer for Pirates' dominance in the early stages of the first half while Isaacs was being kept by Pirates duo Xoki and Sibisi.
Other than Eva Nga's early goal, the opening 45 minutes lacked clear scoring opportunities at both ends as Pirates goalkeeper Richard Ofori barley had a touch of the ball.
View Pirates' full squad for the season:
Pirates should have been doubled their lead 10 minutes after the second half as a swift counter-attack ended with the ball falling kindly for Hotto, who could only fire a tame effort straight at Mbanjwa.
The game began to open up thereafter as Mtshali forced Ofori into a good save with a powerful left-footed volley before Eva Nga placed a first-time strike just wide of the target at the other end.
There was a bit of controversy with 20 minutes left on the clock as Patjie made his way into the box before going down under the challenge of Sibisi, although the referee waved away the appeals for a penalty.
With Swallows seeing more of the ball and pushing for an equaliser, Riveiro introduced Fortune Makaringe, Zakhele Lepasa and Olisa Ndah for the final 15 minutes.
Riveiro's charges managed to see out the closing stages in the end with relative to pick up maximum points while the Dube Birds begin with defeat, despite a better second-half display.
Here's how they lined up:
Pirates: Ofori, Xoki, Sibisi, Maela, Hotto, Monare, Mosele, Nonyane, Dlamini, Lorch, Eva Nga
Subs: Mpontshane, Ndah, Mako, Shandu, Lepasa, Tlolane, Makaringe, Motshwari, Timm
Swallows: Mbanjwa, Damons, Sasman, Sait, Khupe, Mngonyama, Mtshali, Wambi, Patjie, Isaacs
Subs: Ngobeni, Sibiya, Allan, Lukhubeni, Musonda, Mbhele, Amoojee, Mthethwa, Mtshali.
