Tshegofatso Mabasa's 11th goal of the DStv Premiership season was enough to hand Orlando Pirates a 1-0 win over ten-man AmaZulu on Saturday evening.
Jose Riveiro didn’t tinker but recalled Tapelo Xoki in place Innocent Maela as the sole change from the Nedbank Cup win over Usuthu, who welcomed Ethan Brooks back from suspension.
Usuthu were unlucky not to go ahead on six minutes when a one-touch attempt at the far post by Victor Letsoalo hit the upright following Abbubaker Mobara’s free-kick.
Mobara's evening came to an end after 20 minutes, after he was dismissed midway through the first half for bringing down Patrick Maswanganyi in a dangerous position.
Pirates looked to make the most of the advantage and relentlessly pushed numbers to the attack in the hope to catch out the visitors, but to no avail.
Maswanganyi came extremely close to breaking the deadlock with a long-range drive ten minutes ahead of halftime, but he ended up going well wide.
Soon at the other end, Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine was forced to come out of his area and narrow Augustine Mulenga profiting following a delivery over the top.
Pirates came out for the second half revived before then – introduced Thalente Mbatha in the place of the hard-running Makhehlene Makhaula.
Zambian Augustine Mulenga looked to haunt his former club a little later when he combined with Thembela Sikhakhane to get an opening, but Chaine draw a save.
The revived Tshegofatso Mabasa opened the deadlock with 15 minutes to go after he managed to get onto Monnapule Saleng’s weighted ball to finish from close proximity.
Saleng nearly bagged one in five minutes later following a cutback from a tight angle around the box, but he unfortunately had Veli Mothwa on guard.
The missed chance didn’t matter though as the Soweto giants secured victory regardless and moved back into the top-two.
Confirmed line-ups:
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Xoki, Sesane, Makhuala, Lebitso, Timm, Dlamini, Hotto, Maswanganyi, Mofokeng, Mabasa
Subs: Buthelezi, Maela, Monyane, Mbatha, Ndlondlo, Kimvuidi, Kapinga, Saleng, Lepasa
AmaZulu: Mothwa, Sikhakhane, Hanamub, Mphahlele, Fielies, Mobara, Motshwari, Ekstein, Brooks, Letsoalo, Mulenga.
Subs: Mzimela, Ngobeni, Jooste, Gumede, Ngema, Mbanjwa, Moremi, Dion, Kwem
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