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Pirates win season opener

Pirates win season opener

Posted: Aug 27 2010

Orlando Pirates came from behind to beat Vasco da Gama 2-1 in a pulsating opening to the Absa Premiership season at the Cape Town Stadium on Friday.

Some 45 000 fans turned up for the double-header that also saw Ajax Cape Town and Bloemfontein Celtic in action, and were not disappointed by a highly entertaining encounter.

Veteran Sibusiso Zuma put Vasco ahead, before goals from Lucky Lekgwathi and Isaac Chansa sealed the points for Pirates.

After soaking up early pressure from Bucs, Vasco took the lead on 22 minutes through the 35-year-old Zuma. Hendricks' cross to the back post was headed onto the crossbar and in by the veteran former Bafana Bafana international.

It was a sweat moment for the former Pirates man, who has plenty to prove this season after a poor spell with Mamelodi Sundowns.

The visitors were level just past the half-hour mark though as Lekgwathi bundled the ball home from close range. Vasco failed to clear the danger from a corner and when the ball was put back into the box, goalkeeper Jason Barnard could only get a soft hand on it. Lekgwathi turned the ball home with an over-head kick from about a yard out.

Ndumiso Mabena had two great chances to give Pirates the lead in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, first heading wide from Klate's tantalising cross, and then seeing Barnard pull off a world-class save to deny him from 15 yards.

But Pirates were ahead through Chansa, who took his goal well as he unleashed a shot from the edge of the box that Barnard was unable to stop.

Josephs pulled off a fine save to deny the brilliant Zuma, while substitute Bradley August hit the outside of the post with a towering header that had Josephs beaten.

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Lesele : 2010-08-27 20:27

Awuzweke bafana bami

benjie@webmail.co.za : 2010-08-27 20:39

its bn a while that we as bucs fans waiting 4 this, thanks c thatha ma chance chansa 4 a fine form

trevor: 2010-08-27 20:40

Vasco da Gama was good starters for Pirates, best meal to follow (Chiefs, Sundown, etc)

Mystery : 2010-08-27 20:43

Why we stil using dt jabulani ball dt made4 such a lacklustre WC (football wise). As if da PSL standard isnt bad enuf i gues even fewer goals wil b scord. den dey dbl da tickets prices. Eish!

pina: 2010-08-27 20:51

can we pls loan out mabena to a third division club bcos that`s where he deserves to play, useless ****en playa

sabza : 2010-08-27 20:57

shapa orlando pirates shapa

Egniz Khosiology: 2010-08-27 21:08

Tivani ngekhanda elingezwa.Your coach benched your stupid TEKO.Does that ring a bell about his perfomance? Teko is a dead man walking like is coach

Tebza( Totalfootball) The Champ: 2010-08-27 21:10

Good win though not really convincing but thanks boys its a moral boost for the boys going to the next game.it was gud that Teko and Mabalane sits on the bench.Modise should stop this unneccesary and stupid showboating.he is skillfull and has a great talent but proffesional footbal is not about what he is doing.Tlou has a great talent but sometimes he turns to be over-confident which will only work against him.but all in all good start to the season.

sean : 2010-08-27 21:34

It wasnt the most clinical display in the world but I suppose 3 points is 3 points. We need 2 b ruthless from now.

oats: 2010-08-27 21:59

Well guys, everyone with low self esteem cn go ahead and starting saying all stupid things about Modise. When Bafana lose, its Modisae this and that. Even when something totally not involving Modise there is always something to say about Modise. Guys stop being jeleous about this guy...and get a life. Pirates won and Modise didnt start and that can only be answered by the coach if u need any explanation. Modise this, Modise that, stop the obsession. Some players in the national team are so beautiful and cant be critisized..instead u allways here excuses that they are playing out of position. The same is excuse would never be said about Modise.

People get a life please and stop insulting him...im sure he will never insult u back because people are not raised the same. Some come from really strange families as far as morals are concerned.

Msathe: 2010-08-27 22:00

Well done Bucs, as 4 Mr Kroll he must 've observed that Mabena isnt yet the man to win Him games, He's still growin up Mayb nxt yr..he mst fld guyz lyk Msowoya n the striker from Nigra so they can prove themselves or else Go...?

General: 2010-08-27 22:00

Congratulations to Pierats,Jason Barnard had an outstanding perfomance this goalminder is going to be one of the great keepers if he will keep his head cool.

Neo : 2010-08-27 22:25

Well done Bucs! But i still think that our defense looked shaky and needs to shape up... Let's not forget that we've conceded the least amount of goals in the League for the past two seasons, and Slim-kat was the keeper of the season last season. I believe we can still improve on that. We're definately goin to miss Lucas Thwala for the opening stages of the season, not to mention Benson Mhlongo....... Other than that, Bhakaniya 4 LIFE!!

ncedo zondani : 2010-08-27 23:26

what a way to kick off d season pirates for life

mziwe2 : 2010-08-28 00:39

Pirates will be the champion this season they have all needed material to win tbe league. Fakimali uzobona. Mzi2

NTSAKO TYRONE BALOYI@RIVER : 2010-08-28 01:41

Well dne buc, u dd very well n i smel sumtin dis seaon! Our defence mst also cum 2 da party so dat we cn achieve our goals!! Once a Pirates, always a pirate!

Moletsaphala(Tanki habedi Tanki hararo)  : 2010-08-28 06:49

wow vasco supporters are unique: last night their team was wearing white strips and they were wearing ' gold and black'. Everytime Pirates scored their faces didnt look happy. I am happy that vasco's supporters are bringing something new in this game.

alphar : 2010-08-28 07:14

eish this krol dude is stil gona cost us hw do u start a game wit 2 donkeys upfront in mabena n mbuyane? n y nt start wit McTeko!

nduna : 2010-08-28 08:29

Here we go again... Nx. By beating a Vasco the Rats think they have won the league already. Hello, this is how u always start. Come end of the season u start crying again! For heaven sake u beat Vasco nt Downs, Supersport. Eish these Mabhakakuku are so desperate to celebrate, even my team Bhebhazonke FC can beat vasco.

Shakirah : 2010-08-28 09:46

Who's next in the list?he he he i can hear some zim fans saying"plz chansa don't kill us when we meet bcoz we are bankrupt,mtn8 is our last hope"VOETSEK!!!!!!! chansa bulaya ntsha tsena,habashwe.TEKO....THE GOLDEN BOY OF MZANSI.

mash-do : 2010-08-28 10:13

hehehehehe pie-rats is going to 'win' da league!! Just lyk last season they r unstopable!!

Swona Champ!: 2010-08-28 10:24

Chansa! what a a player, but our strikers, needs to relax, Mabena if he is not productive, he'll be like Walaza, watch the space, he does not show hunger where it matters the most, Tlou, that's why Krol brought you back, good game, Daine that kit suits you mfana, up the bucks, we'll be behind you all the way, win or loose,win a cup or loose a cup, win the league or loose the league, thats why we are supporters!

Shakirah : 2010-08-28 10:25

Mash-do,by wining 2 rookies doesn't mean that we are unstopable,wait teal we wallop ur useless team then we can talk.Jou moer idiot,habashwe.SHAKIRAH LOVE TEKO AND PIRATES.

Bhekiwe Mkhabela : 2010-08-28 10:36

We a the happy people again.my boyz let's bring back the trophy at home.Chansa is our answer this season

Sine: 2010-08-28 12:01

The substitution of T.Segolela was unjustifiable I mean da guy was deadly on that wing nd krol decided 2 tke hm off,favourism will kill bucs: I wish kroll can leave my team now befr we finish anothr season trophyles!!!!

All psl plastic trophies : 2010-08-28 13:43

All psl trophies: Jo'moer wena

cedric: 2010-08-28 15:09

they always do

Happy @ mhluzi : 2010-08-28 16:37

ndumiso is nt our material

Frank : 2010-08-28 16:38

Good luck bucs Happy days are back now

Champ "Superbrand": 2010-08-28 18:52

Any coach can take this Pirates team and win the league. But Krol, i doubt him. Why does he keep playing Mbuyane as a striker? Its a mystry? Mabena blew his chances of ever playing for Pirates. If the coach is sane he wont play him the next game. Where is Oturogu? Please start Msowoya next game.

Champ "Superbrand": 2010-08-28 18:54

All the psl teams play against Pirates the same way. If you watch Amazulu, Santos and Vasco, you will notice that they had same approach, give Pirates all the possession and kill them on the counter. Our coach has no plan B. The likes of Lucky, Klate and Chansa wont rescue the coach all the time.

Champ "Superbrand": 2010-08-28 19:00

I am very impressed with Jali, Chansa and Klate. These three players are special and can win Pirates the league. You can never write Teko off. I am sure Krol rested him because he realised that all teams plan around him and he gets to much attention and kicking from opposition. The experience of Lucky is also coming in handy. Tlou is also impressive, I wish players like Klate can teach him that he must not always try to drible past everyone. Crosses are more imported than dribling 3 guys and lose the ball. Also he must help with the marking. Our right back, Happy Jele had a tough day.

Champ Mriyo (Trebble kings of SA): 2010-08-29 09:52

Wel,we won but i stil dnt undstand Krol,is he lukin 4 a bad playa in a gud team or good one in a bad team?Imbuduma(Mabena) n Mbuyane had thier chances last sezin witout any sucess bt he keeps fieldin them.Tlou mus b given enough time like Mabalane coz that boy can b a jam.anyways a win is a win bt stil not convinced by Krol's tactics