Absa Premiership
Result: Baroka 1-2 Orlando Pirates
Date: 22 September 2018
Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium
Vincent Pule bagged a goal and an assist to inspire Orlando Pirates to a 2-1 win over Baroka in the Absa Premiership on Saturday afternoon.
The Buccaneers were looking to bounce back from dropping points against Cape Town City on Wednesday evening.
Augustine Mulenga had a golden chance to grab the lead for the visitors in the tenth minute after going through on goal, but he fired straight at shot-stopper Chipezeze.
Thembinkosi Lorch had an opportunity to finally find the back of the net for Milutin Sredojevic’s charges in the 26th minute after unleashing a low strike from the edge, but his effort shaved the outside of the post as the visitors edged closer.
The opening goal eventually arrived on 32 minutes as Vincent Pule broke the deadlock with a brilliant left-footed strike from outside the box into the left corner, 0-1.
Thembinkosi Lorch doubled the lead for Bucs seven minutes before halftime with a close range finish following a terrible mistake at the back, netting his second goal of the season.
Bakgaga had a late surge looking to reduce the deficit before the break but Pirates held on to take the two-goal cushion into the dressing room.
Mduduzi Mdantsane came close to pulling a goal back for Baroka three minutes after the break with a half-volley from just outside the box but his effort missed agonisingly wide.
Ranga Chivaviro had a glorious chance to get a goal back for the home side three minutes before the hour, but he fired his effort over the bar with only goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane to beat.
Memories of Wednesday's game against City rose again as Onkabetse Makgantai got one goal back for Wedson Nyirenda’s troops 11 minutes before time with a close range strike to set up a nervy final few minutes.
Bakgaga threatened to snatch a late equaliser in the closing stages, but they were not lucky enough as Bucs desperately held on for all the three points.
The victory sees the Buccaneers move top of the table.
Here's how they lined up:
Baroka: 1. Chipezeze, 2. Kgoetyane, 24. Banda, 23. Kgaswane, 5. Makume, 4. Madubanya, 8. Mdantsane, 7. Chawapiwa, 13. Mabeba, 12. Makgaka, 9. Chivaviro.
Subs: 30. Dlamini, 10. Moseki, 14. Mosele, 18. Mapheto, 20. Patjie, 26. Losper, 29. Makgantai.
Pirates: 40. Mpontshane, 4. Jele, 2. Nyauza, 23. Maela, 8. Matlaba, 20. Mlambo, 27. Motshwari, 3. Lorch, 45. Pule, 29. Mako, 17. Mulenga.
Subs: 30. Sandilands, 35. Thopola, Da Silva, 20. Mntambo, 14. Nyatama, 12. Shonga, 11. Memela.
Subs: 30. Sandilands, 35. Thopola, Da Silva, 20. Mntambo, 14. Nyatama, 12. Shonga, 11. Memela.
