DStv Premiership
Result: Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila 0-3 Orlando Pirates
Date: 13 January 2021
Venue: Thohoyandou Stadium
Orlando Pirates moved into fourth position on the DStv Premiership standings with a 3-0 win over Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila on Wednesday.
Captain Thulani Hlatshwayo missed out for Pirates through suspension and replaced by Innocent Maela in the starting line-up. Gabadinho Mhango and Vincent Pule returned to the starting lineup to replace Thabang Monare and Terrence Dzvukamanja respectively.
Pirates began on the front foot, immediately taking the game to the hosts. With a minute and a half gone Wayde Jooste got to the byline on the right-hand side and squared a delicious ball into the box but no Pirates player could get on the end of it.
Pirates broke the deadlock in the 16th minute. Meshack Maphangule dallied on the ball in his own box far too long and was dispossessed by Pule, who squared for Hotto. The Namibian international saw his initial shot blocked, but eventually fired home.
TTM hit the crossbar with their first attempt on the half-hour mark. Maphangule played an excellent through ball for Thabo Rakhale, who lobbed the onrushing Wayne Sandilands only to see his effort land on the crossbar.
Mhango made it two in the 39th minute, scoring in the league for the first time since October. Pule flicked the ball onto Lorch and he slid it around the corner for Mhango, who finished consummately past a helpless Washington Arubi in the TTM goal.
Makaringe scored Pirates' third with 64 minutes gone and what a classy finish it was. Mhango cut the ball back to Lorch, who laid it off to Makaringe and he ran onto the ball to side-foot firmly in to the uppish right-hand corner from 20 yards out.
Soon afterwards, TTM attacker Celimpilo Ngema had an opportunity from an acute angle after being played in by Thembisani Nemvhulamba but ballooned the effort over the bar.
And then Lorch got in behind after a brilliant pass around the corner down the right-hand side from Jooste but the Pirates star hit the side-netting from quite a tight angle.
Having come from two goals down in their previous fixture to draw, TTM were unable to achieve a similar feat here as they were well-beaten in the end.
Here's how they started:
TTM: 36. Arubi, 32. Lukhubeni, 27. Ndengane, Ravhuhali, 22. Thangwane, 13. Maphangule, 10. Ngema, 24. Thopola, 30. Rakhale, 3. Manaka, 8. Nevhulamba.
Subs: 16. Mhlongo, 21. Malongoane, 6. Timm, 5. Mabotja, 25. Monde, 18. Nonyane, 23. Mnyamane, Mudau, 20. Ndlondlo.
Pirates: 30. Sandilands, 5. Nyauza, 23. Maela, 17. Jooste, 29. Mako, 6. Motshwari, 15. Makaringe, 3. Lorch, 11. Hotto, 45. Pule, 7. Mhango.
Subs: 40. Mpontshane, 36. Mundele, 27. Dzvukamanja, 32. Mntambo, 26. Muwowo, 31. Zungu, 16. Monare, 8. Ndlovu, 4. Jele.
Check out JZ's strong Pirates squad for the 2020/21 season:
