Pirates dominate Magesi to draw level with Sundowns

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Orlando Pirates joined Mamelodi Sundowns at the top of the South African Premiership table with a 2-0 win over Magesi on Saturday, but coach Abdeslam Ouaddou lamented missed chances.

“We should have scored at least six goals,” said the 47-year-old former Fulham defender after his Buccaneers dominated the bottom club before a near-capacity 35,000 crowd in Soweto.

“There were so many entries into the final third, but the killer instinct was missing. I am very happy with the points, but not the finishing.”

After the kick-off was delayed 20 minutes by lightning, Pirates were quickly into their stride and Yanela Mbuthuma scored after nine minutes.

Relebohile Mofokeng crossed and Mbuthuma found the time and space to fire past Zimbabwean goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze from close range.

Mbuthuma and Mofokeng reversed roles on 41 minutes to give Pirates a 2-0 half-time advantage that did not fully reflect their total superiority.

A Mbuthuma pass sent Mofokeng through the middle and his low shot from inside the D flew into the far corner of the net.

Pirates’ sixth consecutive home league victory in the league without conceding lifted the Soweto outfit to 32 points. Defending champions Sundowns remained first only on goal difference.

Sundowns, who are chasing a ninth straight title, will surrender top spot on Tuesday to either AmaZulu or Pirates if their clash in Durban produces a winner.

AmaZulu rose to fourth, two points behind the leaders, with a 1-0 away victory over lowly Marumo Gallants in central city Bloemfontein.

Mondli Mbanjwa notched his second Premiership goal this season on 72 minutes, powerfully nodding a cross past 40-year-old Zimbabwe goalkeeper Washington Arubi.

After starting the league season with two victories, Marumo have achieved just one further win in 15 matches, raising doubts about the future of 28-year-old French coach Alexandre Lafitte.

Long-time bottom club Chippa United continued a mid-season revival with two goals from Sinoxole Kwayiba delivering a 2-0 home win over Durban City in East London.

Both goals stemmed from defensive blunders by sixth-placed Durban. The hesitancy of goalkeeper Darren Keet gifted the first, and a careless Terrence Mashego back pass led to the second.

Orbit College dropped below Chippa to second last despite overcoming a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 at mid-table Polokwane City.

The 87th-minute Orbit equaliser was scored by 43-year-old captain and midfielder Atisang Batsi.

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–AFP

Photo: Daniel Hlongwane/Gallo Images

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Lukhanyo Gqokoma