Absa Premiership
Full Time: Platinum Stars 0-2 Orlando Pirates
Date: 14 February 2015
Venue: Royal Bafokeng Stadium
Lehlohonolo Majoro scored the winning goal and also saw a red card as Orlando Pirates beat Platinum Stars 2-0 in an Absa Premiership match at the Royal Bafoken Stadium on Saturday.
The Buccaneers dominated the early exchanges, but for all their possession they struggled to create many decent goal scoring chances.
The first real opening came in the 15th minute when Issa Sarr met a corner-kick, but his ten-yard header went inches wide of the post.
Stars thought they had taken the lead in the 35th minute when Ndumiso Mabena found the back of the net, but his goal was disallowed for off-sides.
A minute later Mabena should have score when he found himself in space 16-yards out, but his powerful shot skimmed the wrong side of the post.
Lehlohonolo Majoro came close to opening the scoring for Pirates in the 37th minute when he met a low left wing cross from Sifiso Myeni at the back post, but he struck the side-netting from four-yards out.
Pirates did take the lead in the last minute of the half when Oupa Manyisa slipped Majoro through on goal and he cleverly chipped the onrushing keeper, 1-0.
Platinum Stars started the second half the better of the two sides and had the first decent effort on goal in the 58th minute when Mogakolodi Ngele fired inches over from a 24-yard free-kick.
Pirates suffered a major set-back in the 62nd minute when Majoro was given a straight red card for stamping on Mahlatsi Makudubela.
Six minutes later Brighton Mhlongo had to be at his best to deny Mabena from 25-yards out with a good save.
In the 85th minute Stars came bitterly close to the equaliser when Eleazar Rodgers worked himself some space inside the box with some nifty footwork before striking the crossbar with a ten-yard bicycle-kick.
Lennox Bacela made certain of all three points for Pirates in the 90th minute when he added their second goal following a goalmouth scramble inside the Stars box, 2-0.
