Orlando Pirates secured a 1-0 victory over Polokwane City to go fourth on the DStv Premiership table on Sunday afternoon.
One change for Pirates showed from the team that hammered Crystal Lake 6-0, as Deon Hotto replaced captain Innocent Maela before City had Bafana Bafana’s Oswin Appollis back from suspension.
Pirates aimed towards a strong start on just two minutes through a snap strike by Relebohile Mofokeng from Thabiso Lebitso’s ball, but City’s Manuel Sapunga drew a save.
Appollis launched a quick reply moments later from a well-angled move in-and-around the box following a decoy run, but in the end blazed over.
Pirates were the closest though a few minutes later when Karim Kimvuidi collected Patrick Maswanganyi’s loose pass to get goal-side and fired off the top of the woodwork.
Mofokeng very nearly handed them the lead with a curling shot from out wide after cutting inside, but Sapunga parried tremendously for a corner-kick.
Pirates still enjoyed the bulk of chances after the break and had Mofokeng coming in from deep through a few telling runs, but the host stood their ground.
Forward Evidence Makgopa nearly got in with a first-time shot following a decoy run into the box, but in the end he riffled over.
Makgopa did made up a little to the final 20 minutes where he rose high in the box to nod in a well-taken curling free-kick and leave Rise and Shine on the back-foot.
In order to preserve the advantage, Pirates switched focus to the substitutes bench and introduced Thabang Monare ahead of Makhehlene Makhaula.
Pirates should’ve finished it up with a first-time shot from a tight angle by substitute Kabelo Dlamini, but he was denied by the post – though the Soweto giants still ended on the winning side.
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Confirmed line-ups:
Polokwane City: Sapunga, Matuludi, Nikani, Nkaki, Ndlovi, Kambala, Maphanhule, Mashikinya, Appolis, Ramabu, Mapfumo.
Subs: Mokwena, Baloyi, Nkwe, Baloyi, Alexander, van Heerden, Tshabalala, Goovadia, Mabena.
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Ndah, Xoki, Hotto, Monyane, Makhaula, Mbatha, Kimvuidi, Mofokeng, Maswanganyi Makgopa.
Subs: Ofori, Mthethwa, Lebitso, Maela, Kapinga, Dlamini, Saleng, Monare, Mabasa.
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