Staff Reporter.
Orlando Pirates maintained their 100 per cent win record in the Betway Premiership by securing a 2-0 win over SuperSport United at the Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night.
A fourth consecutive win elevated Pirates to the top of the league standings – three points clear of second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns who have a game in hand. Pirates will look to make it five wins in a row when they host AmaZulu FC on Friday.
Pirates got off to a great start as Thabiso Sesane’s long ball found Evidence Makgopa who marked his return to the starting line-up with a goal to hand Pirates a 1-0 lead just two minutes into the match.
However, Sipho Chaine became the busier of the two goalkeepers towards the half-hour mark. The Bafana Bafana international made saves to deny Vincent Pule and Tashreeq Morris, while also blocking Lyle Lakay’s curling free-kick in the 25th minute. The score was 1-0 to Pirates at halftime.
With Matsatsantsa pushing for the equalising goal after the restart coach Gavin Hunt decided to make a triple substitution eight minutes into the second-half – introducing Donay Jansen, Ime Okon and Keanin Ayer.
However, the Buccaneers did not sit back in the latter stages of the matches as they looked to double their lead. Deon Hotto was afforded time and space to unleash a powerful low shot which beat keeper Ricardo Goss to seal Pirates’ 2-0 win in stoppage time.