Staff Reporter.
Orlando Pirates winless league run stretched to three games as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Cape Town City at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday evening
The Citizens came from a goal down to secure their fifth league win of the campaign thanks to goals from Juan Zapata and Darwin Gonzalez, with the result pushing them up to sixth spot on the table.
As for the Buccaneers, this result completes a hat-trick of defeats by following on from reverses at the hands of Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns in their last two league outings.
They drop to seventh on the log – level on 19 points with Golden Arrows, City and Chippa United – and a full 18 adrift of leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
Pirates bossed the early exchanges, with Monnapule Saleng notably drawing a fine save from City goalkeeper Darren Keet with a long-range shot in just the second minute, while Deon Hotto fluffed a great chance on the quarter hour mark.
However, the Namibian winger more than made up for it with a superb strike to put the Buccaneers ahead on 21 minutes, cracking home a left-footed drive from just inside the penalty area.
Keet had further saves to make from Saleng and Erasmus, before City claimed an equaliser through Juan Zapata just past the half-hour mark.
Lyle Lakay provided a fine cross from the left and the Colombian striker got above Nkosinathi Sibisi to power home a brilliant header for 1-1.
The teams traded chances in what remained of the first half, but the interval arrived with the score line locked at 1-1.
Pirates provided the first genuine threat after the break, with Erasmus turning on the edge of the box and firing off a low drive which required a sharp save from Keet in the 57th minute.
The Bucs striker soon made way for former Baroka FC player Evidence Makgopa, who made his debut for the club, before the Citizens sent on Taahir Goedeman, Darwin Gonzalez and Marc van Heerden just after the hour mark.
And the hosts claimed the lead on 74 minutes, with Thabo Nodada and Van Heerden combining down the left to set up Gonzalez, who arrived late at the far post and turned home a cross from the flank for 2-1.
The Buccaneers pushed for an equaliser in what remained of the game, but they were unable to find one – continuing the bizarre statistic that they have not scored a single goal in the second halves of league matches this season.
The teams will be back in DStv Premiership action next Saturday, 14 January, with Pirates hosting Golden Arrows and City visiting Chippa United.