Absa Premiership
Full Time: Orlando Pirates 1-2 SuperSport United
Date: 18 January 2014
Venue: Orlando Stadium
Second half goals from two substitutes in Mame Niang and debutant Dino Ndlovu saw SuperSport United beat Orlando Pirates 2-1 in an Absa Premiership match at Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Pirates started the better of the two sides and dominated the play early on, but for all their possession they struggled to break down a resilient SuperSport defence.
The Buccaneers were using the width of the pitch to their advantage and attacked down the flanks using the likes of Sifiso Myeni and Daine Klate well.
Still, their first chance on goal was a long range effort from Thandani Ntshumayelo that went well-wide of the goal.
Pirates next opening on goal only came in the 20th minute as Kermit Erasmus broke behind the United defence, but he scuffed his shot wide of goal from just outside the box with only the keeper to beat.
Two minutes later a cross from the left fell to Myeni 16-yards out, but his powerful shot was brilliantly saved by Williams, diving to his left to tip it around the post.
Williams was at his best in the 35th minute again, diving full stretch to his left to make a fingertip save to deny Andile Jali from 30-yards out.
Two minutes later and SuperSport suffered a big blow as Edwin Gyimah left the field injured and was replaced by Morne Nel.
Pirates, who dominated the half, had the last say as Erasmus saw a shot from the edge of the box strike the underside of the crossbar and bounce away from danger.
The half ended 0-0.
The start of the second half quickly fell into the pattern of the first as Pirates dominated proceedings and had their first attempt on goal in the 54th minute as Thabo Matlaba saw his 30-yard pile-driver sail inches over the crossbar.
Two minutes later, though, and SuperSport took the lead very much against the run of play thanks to second half substitute Mame Niang.
Niang towered above his markers to meet a Lebogang Manyama cross from the left with a good header which he saw saved by Senzo Meyiwa, the keeper pushing his effort onto the post, but the United striker was quickest to react as he tapped the ball home from close range, 1-0.
Pirates pushed forward even more after that and continued to look dangerous, but again it was at the other end, very much against the run of play once more, that we saw a goal.
In the 67th minute second half substitute Dino Ndlovu scored on his debut, heading home a left wing cross from Manyama to double SuperSport’s lead, 2-0.
Pirates threw numbers forward after that and did manage to find a consolation goal through Happy Jele in the 92nd minute, but it was too little too late as the side from Pretoria picked up the first Absa Premiership win of 2014
