Staff Reporter.
Orlando Pirates made it two wins in a row when they fought back to secure a 3-1 over Chippa United at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Phakamani Mahlambi marked his first start for the Chippa with a goal, but three goals from Tshegofatso Mabasa, Abel Mabaso and Goodman Mosele handed Pirates a victory in Port Elizabeth.
Chippa who opened the scoring through Mahlambi, drop to 10th on goal difference after a second successive league defeat.
The Chilli Boys started well and were rewarded with a goal in the 12th minute: Thokozani Sekotlong played a fine pass to put Mahlambi into space down the left and the attacker was able to drive into the penalty before coming up against Happy Jele – his low shot rebounded off the legs of the defender, back onto his own and then snuck past goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane at the near post.
Pirates gradually began to find an attacking rhythm around the midway point of the first half and were able to level the game on 29 minutes, with Vincent Pule’s tame shot well controlled by Mabasa, who then turned smartly and provided a finish past goalkeeper Ismail Watenga to make it 1-1.
Chippa should have reclaimed the lead on 43 minutes, with Sekotlong doing well to beat Mpontshane to a lobbed through ball and sending a looping effort toward goal – Thulani Hlatshwayo was on hand to prevent a goal but gifted the ball straight back to Mahlambi, who then shot wide from close range.
Sekotlong continued to be a thorn in the side of the away side’s defence and had the last notable attacking moment of the first half, shooting on the turn from the edge of the box in injury time, with his effort flicked just over the target by the head of teammate Mogakolodi Ngele to leave the game at 1-1 at the interval.
The Baccuneers strengthened their attack with the introduction of Terrence Dzvukamanja at the start of the second half, while Deon Hotto came off the bench a few minutes before the hour mark to offer a new sense of creativity.
Pirates almost immediately scored a beautiful counter attacking goal, with Pule stealing the ball on the edge of his own box and sparking a brilliant attacking move which ended with Bandile Shandu’s low cross being turned home at close range by Abel Mabaso for 2-1 in the 59th minute.
The Chilli Boys had to find a way to level matters with Mahlambi keen to use speed to beat the ageing Jele, but the 34-year-old defender made two good tackles to stop the Sundowns loanee with the Pirates defence looking solid and compact.
The Soweto giants made the points safe inside the last 12 minutes after Goodman Mosele ran in from the right to drill a though pass from substitute Deon Hotto into the far corner.
The teams will be back in DStv Premiership action next weekend, with Pirates at home to Mamelodi Sundowns on the afternoon of Saturday 25 September and Chippa visiting Stellenbosch FC later the same day.