Staff Reporter.
Orlando Pirates reclaimed second place in the DStv Premiership after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over TS Galaxy at the Mbombela Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Pirates hit the front after just two minutes when Terrence Dzvukamanja glanced a header home from a corner but they were pegged back shortly before halftime with an equaliser from Given Msimango.
Deon Hotto would restore Pirates’ lead early in the second half and they held on for three precious points which took them back above SuperSport United in the standings, with the Rockets slipping down to 12th spot after suffering a third defeat in four outings.
Galaxy were looking to halt a three-match winless run in a bid to climb back into the top eight, while the Buccaneers pursued a sixth win on the spin to keep up their challenge for CAF Champions League football.
Pirates bossed possession in the first half but they struggled to create clear-cut chances after getting off to a dream start in Nelspruit.
The visitors went on the attack from the kick-off and won an early corner, which Dzvukamanja glanced into the bottom left corner of the net with his head at the near post.
They weren’t able to build on that second-minute lead though, as the Rockets started to get a foothold in the game, with Kamogelo Sebelebele getting a sniff at goal when he steered a header wide of the right post from Yaimil Medina’s cross in the 28th minute.
Kabelo Dlamini managed to work Melusi Buthelezi after being found by Hotto on the edge of the box on 35 minutes but his shot was straight at the goalkeeper.
However, the hosts got themselves back into the contest six minutes before halftime as Msimango headed home from a corner to restore parity.
Kabelo Dlamini wasted a good opportunity to put Bucs back in front on 42 minutes when he failed to hit the target with a free-kick that flew wide of the near post.
The Soweto giants made a bright start to the second half, with Dzvukamanja forcing a save out of Buthelezi after trying his luck from range in the 47th minute before Tapelo Xoki directed a header wide of the right post from the resulting corner.
Their efforts were soon rewarded when Hotto beat Buthelezi with a header from close range on 58 minutes after Nkosinathi Sibisi had directed a corner back into his path.
Galaxy refused to yield though, and Sipho Chaine was called into action three times in the space of just three minutes to keep out strikes inside the area from Orebotse Mongae and Tshegofatso Nyama before being tested by Bernard Parker from range.
Kermit Erasmus looked to make the game safe two minutes from time as he arrived at the near post to meet Monnapule Saleng’s delivery into the six-yard box but he only managed to hit the side-netting, while Buthelezi pulled off a sharp save to deny Saleng in a one-on-one in the fourth minute of added time.