Absa Premiership Report: Maritzburg United v Orlando Pirates 24 April 2019

Apr 24, 2019 - 09:24 pm

By Soccer Laduma

Justin Shonga

Absa Premiership

Result: Maritzburg United 0-1 Orlando Pirates

Date: 24 April 2019

Venue: Harry Gwala Stadium

Orlando Pirates went three points clear at the top of the Absa Premiership standings with a 1-0 victory over Maritzburg United at Harry Gwala Stadium on Wednesday evening.

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With just two minutes gone, Thembinkosi Lorch controlled the ball immaculately and struck a sweet volley first-time from outside the box but it was straight at Richard Ofori.

It was end-to-end stuff with neither team content to sit back. The hosts had their first opportunity when debutant Simphiwe Hlongwane found space in the box but his deflected shot went wide.

In the 13th minute, Maritzburg defender Brian Onyango almost gifted Pirates the lead when he underhit his back pass to Ofori with Vincent Pule pouncing and squaring the ball to Lorch, who looked as if he would tap in to an empty net but was denied by a brilliant goal-saving block from Nazeer Allie. Eight minutes later, Mxolisi Kunene whipped in a delightful free-kick that just evaded an unmarked Allie at the back post. The Team of Choice were making inroads in to the Pirates defence and Hlongwane brought a good save out of Wayne Sandilands as he outjumped his marker and connected well with the header but it was straight at the Buccaneers's shot-stopper. Pule skinned a couple of defenders, got to the byline and almost scored from an impossible angle shortly before the interval.

Soon after the break, Justin Shonga fired just wide after good build-up from the visitors in working the ball in to the box. Pirates began to apply more pressure on the basement dwellers in the second half. But they were guilty of overplaying in the final third and at times trying to walk the ball in to the net. Another sweeping move from the Sea Robbers got Luvuyo Memela in to space in the box as the ball was cut back to him, but his right-footed effort went wide of the right-hand upright. Eventually in the 66th minute, Pirates broke the deadlock. Lorch played the ball in to the box via Shonga to Memela, who squared the ball across the face of goal with Onyango unable to clear and Pule getting the final touch as the ball found its way in to the back of the net. Soon after, Judas Moseamedi forced Sandilands in to tipping the ball over the crossbar with a well-directed header. Eric Tinkler's side pushed for an equaliser, but try as they might, they could not force their way back in to the game as their survival hopes took another massive knock.

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Here's how they lined up:

Maritzburg: 31. Ofori, 36. Kunene, 2. Allie, 23. De Reuck 2. Onyango, 11. Makaringe, 35. Timm, Hlongwane, 22. Mokate, 8. Ndlovu, 26. Shandu.

Subs: 30. Mpandle, 25. Xulu, 15. Matsi, 20. Kutumela, 5. Farmer, 28. Mekoa, 19. Moseamedi.

Pirates: 30. Sandilands, 4. Jele, 33. Munetsi, 23. Maela, 28. Dube, 27. Motshwari, 14. Nyatama, 45. Pule, 11. Memela, 12. Shonga, 3. Lorch.

Subs: 40. Mpontshane, 44. Mabaso, 31. Gabuza, 21. Ndengane, 17. Mulenga, 15. Qalinge, 5. Makola.