Orlando Pirates turned in another workmanlike performance in beating Orbit College 1-0 in their Betway Premiership match held at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night.
The three points earned from the midweek encounter pushed the hosts up from the bottom half of the standings into seventh place halfway through the fourth game week of the new season.
It was a welcome result in what was their last home outing ahead of the September FIFA break.
Back in the league after a successful cup outing over the weekend, Orlando Pirates were looking to keep the winning momentum going with another maximum-point haul on home soil.
They met a fair bit of resistance from the top-flight newcomers, who set about ensuring that the hosts struggled to find their usual fluidity on attack.
Best chance
Opportunities proved to be a rare commodity throughout the opening half, with the Buccaneers spurning what was perhaps their best chance of the early exchanges.
It came in the seventh minute when Patrick Maswanganyi connected with a clever chip from Deon Hotto before firing straight at goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane with his shot on the turn.
The Soweto giants struggled in their bid to find an opening, despite enjoying most of the possession.
They had another attempt at goal just after the half-hour mark when Hotto chanced his arm from a long way out, only to direct his effort well off target.
An error at the back just moments away from the break nearly proved costly as Siyabulela Mabele picked up a stray ball deep in opposition territory.
It appeared set to send the net bulging, but Sipho Chaine was able to scramble across and make a vital save.
The start of the second half took on a more frantic pace, with both sides sensing an opening early on.
Former Bucs Academy forward Ikaneng Ramosala tested Chaine with an effort from inside the penalty area, with the shot-stopper proving equal to the task once more.
Moment of magic
Orlando Pirates hit back with a close-range attempt from Lebone Seema, whose header from a corner rolled across the face of goal.
The centre-back’s next foray upfield however produced a moment of magic to open his Bucs account.
He was positioned perfectly to collect the rebound from a Kamogelo Sebelebele cutback and volleyed at goal from outside the box to make it 1-0 in the 56th minute.
Replacement midfielder Sipho Mbule almost doubled the lead straight away, with his long-range effort drifting wide.
Chaine also had to be on top of his game at the other end when he was tested by Mabele with a powerful shot that he turned away for a corner.
Orlando Pirates remained the more dominant side, and had a few late opportunities as Tshepang Moremi flashed wide with an effort from range before Tshegofatso Mabasa and Sebelebele were both denied from inside the penalty area as the pressure remained with the visitors.
A last-gasp chance from Thalente Mbatha came close to providing the second, but the midfielder’s shot could only brush the upright on its way out for a goalkick.
The solitary goal was all that would separate the two sides in the end, with Orlando Pirates claiming another hard-fought victory at home for the second league game running.
Orlando Pirates XI
Chaine, Seema, Mbokazi, Shandu, Hotto (Hotto 46’), Nduli (Mbatha 46’), Mariko (Mbule 46’), Maswanganyi, Sebelebele, Appollis (Moremi 67’), Mabasa (Makgopa 78’)
Despite a slow start to the season, will Orlando Pirates still be title contenders?
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