Orlando Pirates got off the mark in the Betway Premiership this season with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Stellenbosch FC at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday night.
The three points earned on the night pulled the Soweto giants out of unwanted territory in the bottom three of the standings, moving them up to 11th place.
Quick to dominate
They avoided an unprecedented third straight defeat at the start of the league campaign in what was their first midweek outing at Orlando Stadium in the new season.
Having failed to open their account on two attempts prior to their clash with Stellies, the Buccaneers were quick to dominate proceedings in search of their first league points.
Oswin Appollis struck the upright four minutes into his return to the starting line-up when he was played through by Relebohile Mofokeng, with the duo combining well on the left flank.
They continued to pull the strings during the early exchanges, with Mofokeng and Deon Hotto both proving to be a menace in the attacking third.
Neither could find the opener, however, as the visitors’ defence proved equal to the task in the opening exchanges.
The resistance did not last for much longer as Kamogelo Sebelebele quickly made it two goals in as many starts in Bucs colours.
The winger was heavily involved in a swift move upfield, initiating then finishing the attack with a cracking right-footed strike that went beyond the reach of a diving Sage Stephens to make it 1-0 with just 15 minutes played.
He could have been joined on the scoresheet by another recent signing in Sihle Nduli who nearly struck his first Bucs goal against his former side in the 23rd minute.
The midfielder found himself in space just outside the penalty area and managed to draw a save from Stephens with a well-struck shot.
Off target
His effort was followed by one from a similar range by Sipho Mbule – brought in halfway through the first half to replace the injured Deano van Rooyen – with striker Evidence Makgopa following suit with a shot that landed off target as Orlando Pirates continued to dominate proceedings at home.
More attempts late in the first half failed to yield another strike for the home side, who went wide through Mofokeng before Thalente Mbatha was denied by Stephens three minutes from the break.
The Buccaneers took a slim lead into the second half, and quickly went about attempting to double their advantage with another early blitz which consisted of shots from Hotto, Mbule and Mofokeng inside the opening 10 minutes of the second period.
Chances at goal were mainly concentrated at one end throughout the game’s opening hour, as Sebelebele had a chance to increase his tally around the half-hour mark, but only managed to fire inches wide with his left foot.
Bucs ‘keeper Sipho Chaine had to wait until the last half hour of the contest to make a real save, and he did so denying Langelihle Phili whose heavy first touch resulted in a fairly-comfortable stop for the shot-stopper.
An attempt from Khomotjo Lokoloane demanded more of Chaine in the 73rd minute, and he was again equal to the task.
Last real attempt
That turned out to be the last real attempt for the visitors, with the Buccaneers continuing to spark some bright moments at the other end, where replacement winger Tshepang Moremi and Mofokeng both had some close calls without really troubling Stephens.
The Bucs defence stood up well to a late onslaught by the men from the Cape Winelands, who desperately sought an equaliser in injury time.
Their determined team effort pulled through in the end as they held on to their slim lead to walk off with all three points on offer, ending their four-match winless run in league matches against The Maroons.
UPDATED BETWAY PREMIERSHIP LOG
Orlando Pirates
Chaine, Seema, Mbokazi, Van Rooyen (Mbule 20’), Hotto, Nduli, Mbatha (Dlamini 63’), Sebelebele, Mofokeng, Appollis (Moremi 81’), Makgopa (Mabasa 63’)
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