Orbit College jumped to the top of the PSL promotion play-off table following a 1-0 victory over Casric Stars on Saturday afternoon.
Stars named three changes from the dramatic last-gasp draw against Cape Town City in Sphamandla Mlilo, Ofentse Mothapo and Joel Agoe, while Muhluri Ubisi featured as the visitors’ sole change.
Agoe looked to hit the ground running in the opening minute through a half-volley from a tight angle following a high-ball, but he slammed wide of the near post.
Ubisi didn’t continue the remainder of the match and was substituted in the 20th minute following an injury with Tshepo Matsemela on in his place.
Casric still applied the majority of chances on the half-hour mark as Simon Moukete volleyed over from the far post following a cross-field delivery.
There were no substitutions ahead of the second half, with the match keenly poised and chances very minimal all-round the scale.
Orbit missed a golden chance ten minutes in the break after a stray pass unleashed Siyabulela Mabele to take aim from the wide of the area, but Emile Lako smothered.
Then within a minute, Stars squandered an opening too as Mothapo charged in at the back-post to get underneath a floating delivery but he slammed over the top.
Casric turned to the bench in the latter stages and made a triple substitution in Tlhalefang Kgabane, Loatile Tlholoe and Kermit Erasmus.
It didn’t bother the visitors who went ahead ten minutes from time when a speculative shot outside the area by Mabele wrong-footed Lako and found the bottom-corner.
The home team came close to salvage a point through a first-time effort from the edge of the area by Decide Chauke in the final minute, but Sekhoane Moerane parried.
Casric continued to apply pressure in the closing minutes as Kgabane missed a sitter in stoppage time, thus saw Orbit to victory and top spot in the mini-league play-offs table.
Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
