ABSA Premiership
Result: Pirates 1-0 P City
Date: 18 September 2013
Venue: Orlando Stadium
Rooi Mahamutsa ensured that Orlando Pirates secured their first win over the league season as his strike took them to a 1-0 win over bottom club Polokwane City on Wednesday.
Pirates looked rushed for most of the first period as they attempted shots from range instead of trying to break down the minnows. The continued to plug away though and Mahamutsa decided matters after the break.
Polokwane got things underway in strange fashion as they immediatly fired a shot at goal from the half-way line after the first whistle.
The Sea Robbers hit back with Oupa Manyisa firing over from inside the area after two shots had already been blocked by the City defenders.
Tlou Segolela then lifted a shot well over the target before Modiri Marumo bravely dived in to prevent Kermit Erasmus and Thamsanqa Gabuza from meeting a cross at the near post.
The collision saw the goalkeeper down for some time for treatment but he was able to continue. Pirates' most promising moments looked to be coming from set-pieces with Siyabonga Sangweni losing his marker but he was denied a good chance by the offside flag - a decision that did not look correct in the replays.
Segolela let rip with and outrageous strike in the 25th minute which took a slight deflection and sailed past the angle while Erasmus' low cross caused a scramble three minutes later which City cleared.
Rise and Shine started coming into the game and a cross-cum-shot was not dealt with convincingly by Senzo Meyiwa before having to produce a solid save in stoppage time to see the game into the break at 0-0.
The game followed a similar pattern in the opening few minutes of the second period but Pirates started to crank up the pressure and saw an attempt cleared off the line.
Polokwane's resistance would then finally be broken in the 63rd minute when Rooi Mahamutsa slammed a finish home at the edge of the area.
Substitute Thulasizwe Mbuyane looked to add their second but his shot from inside the area was deflected and the goalkeeper palmed it over.
Polokwane couldn't slide a decent chance in at the far post soon after while Andile Jali went down with what looked like an elbow problem but he was able to continue despite initially looking to be in some pain – though the problem still seemed to be troubling him in the final few minutes.
Marumo ensured that no more goals arrived late in the game with a fantastic close range stop as Mahamutsa’s strike proved to be the difference on the night.
Pirates: Senzo Meyiwa, Rooi Mahamutsa, Siyabonga Sangweni, Happy Jele, Patrick Phungwayo, Aubrey Ngoma, Andile Jali, Oupa Manyisa, Tlou Segolela, Kermit Erasmus, Thamsanqa Gabuza.
Polokwane City: Modiri Marumo, Lawrence Molekwane, Thapelo Tshilo, Million Mkhabela, Kabelo Gervas Lichaba, Sphesihle Nzimande, Maxwell Molala, Moffat Mdluli, Mothusi Gopane, Essau Kanyenda, Thobani Mncwango.
