Staff Reporter.
Kwame Peprah bagged a brace as Orlando Pirates ended the year with a come-from-behind victory over AmaZulu on Thursday evening.
Pirates will head into 2022 as Mamelodi Sundowns’ nearest chasers, though they are a distant 14 points behind the champions, while AmaZulu are fifth after seeing the end of an 11-game unbeaten run which stretched back to October.
AmaZulu got off to a flyer and claimed the lead in the fourth minute with two former Pirates players combined to great effect, as Thabo Qalinge’s reverse pass allowed Luvoyo Memela to crack a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane for 1-0.
The Buccaneers took their time to settle in a rhythm, but by the 20-minute mark they were threatening an equaliser, as AmaZulu first needed a key interception from Samkelo Mgwazelo, before Ntsikelelo Nyauza headed over from a corner kick.
The hosts then suffered an injury blow when defender Kwanda Mngonyama limped off in the 27th minute, replaced by Abel Mabaso.
However, 10 minutes later they drew level, with Deon Hotto doing well to provide a pull-back from the left by-line which was turned home by Peprah, who managed to squeeze the ball past both Tapelo Xoki and goalkeeper Neil Bosshoff to make it one apiece.
The half drew to a close with the score locked at 1-1, though the momentum was with the Buccaneers, as Usuthu were forced to cling on in the dying minutes before the break.
Both sides opted for changes at the start of the second half, with Pirates swapping out Ntsako Makhubela for Fortune Makaringe, while Augustine Mulenga replaced Thembela Sikhakhane.
Bucs then picked up where they left off and claimed the lead on 48 minutes through another goal from Peprah, who fired home a low, left-footed shot after being teed up by a quality through ball from Goodman Mosele.
AmaZulu had two great chances to level the game just after the hour mark, with both Qalinge and Mulenga missing out – the former skewed a shot wide after being unable to sort out his feet quick enough, while the latter was denied by a brilliant last-ditch challenge from Hotto of all people.
Pirates substitute Terrence Dzvukamanja had the chance to end the game as a contest on 71 minutes when Makaringe’s pass put him on goal, but the Zimbabwean saw his effort strike the upright and rebound away to safety.
AmaZulu also struck the woodwork in their efforts to claim an equaliser late on, with Mulenga latching onto a loose ball after Siphelele Mthembu had caused trouble with his physicality, only to see his strike from the left of the box rattle the post.
Pirates replied in the dying minutes and saw Makaringe sting the gloves of Boshoff from close-range, but in the end they had done enough to end their year on a high.
Meanwhile after the successful launch of the innovative DStv Compact Cup, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and the title sponsor, DStv, are now officially handing over the reins to fans.
Through a safe and secure voting mechanic, fans can now simply dial *120*830# or visit supersport.com to assemble an evenly balanced squad of 26 players which must consist of at least eight defenders, eight midfielders, four strikers, two goalkeepers as well as four DStv Diski Challenge players.
The DStv Compact Cup, themed as the viewers’ choice for its unique offering that enables fans an exclusive platform to put to test their tactical acumen in assembling formidable squads from an array of talent available in all 16 member clubs of the PSL, is a first of its kind.
In addition to giving fans a voice, DStv will make one lucky DStv Compact subscribing voter an instant millionaire through a lucky draw that will be conducted after the tournament.