Mabasa Climbs In Golden Boot Race As Bucs Down AmaZulu

Orlando Pirates climbed to second spot on the DStv Premiership table with a 1-0 win over ten-man AmaZulu on Saturday evening.

DStv Premiership

Result: Orlando Pirates 1-0 AmaZulu

Date: 20 April 2024

Venue: Orlando Stadium

Pirates made only one change following their thumping win against the same opposition in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals, as Tapelo Xoki returned from his suspension, with the attack of Tshegofatso Mabasa, Relebohile Mofokeng, Kabelo Dlamini and Patrick Maswanganyi unchanged.

The game was open in the early exchanges as within the first eight minutes, Victor Letsoalo came very close to giving AmaZulu the lead with a shot unmarked at the back post that came off the post.

However, Usuthu were reduced to ten men on 21 minutes after Abbubaker Mobara for denying Pirates a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

The Buccaneers did not show that they had a numerical advantage after that as AmaZulu came the closest again to breaking the deadlock eight minutes before the interval after Letsoalo had a deflected header that missed the top corner narrowly wide.

The visitors slowed down the tempo of the game towards the end of the first stanza and on the stroke of half-time, Ethan Brooks almost gave them the lead with a low shot that brought a reflex save from shot-stopper Sipho Chaine. 

Jose Riveiro's charges struggled to create chances early in the second stanza and just before the hour-mark, they were nearly punished for a mistake after Ben Motshwari went through on goal but his shot was saved by Chaine.

The Spanish tactician eventually made an attacking change moments later, as Monnapule Saleng replaced Dlamini.

Saleng gave the Soweto giants new energy going forward and was influential in Pirates going ahead 15 minutes before time after he went through in the box and put a square pass to Tshegofatso Mabasa, who had an easy tap-in.

The Buccaneers controlled the game with long spells of possession in the closing stages and ran down the clock in the dying minutes as they held on to a narrow win.

Here's how they lined up:

Orlando Pirates: 24. Chaine, 27. Xoki, 36. Sesane, 16. Makhuala, 37. Lebitso, 4. Timm, 18. Dlamini, 7. Hotto, 28. Maswanganyi, 38. Mofokeng, 19. Mabasa

Subs: 35. Buthelezi, 23. Maela, 2. Monyane, 41. Mbatha, 15. Ndlondlo, 25. Kimvuidi, 21. Kapinga, 14. Saleng, 9. Lepasa

AmaZulu: 44. Mothwa, 5. Sikhakhane, 14. Hanamub, 23. Mphahlele, 43. Fielies, 2. Mobara, 8. Motshwari, 27. Ekstein, 18. Brooks, 28. Letsoalo, 11. Mulenga.

Subs: 19. Mzimela, 25. Ngobeni, 26. Jooste, 17. Gumede, 20. Ngema, 15. Mbanjwa, 19. Moremi, 33. Dion, 9. Kwem

You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.

Click here to register!