Orlando Pirates registered a 2-0 win over Granada in their final pre-season friendly in Spain on Saturday evening.
Tapelo Xoki, Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Tshepang Moremi retained their places in the Buccaneers starting eleven from the team that started against Las Palmas midweek.
Pirates were close to taking the lead earlier on with a curling effort from a tight angle by Moremi, but goalkeeper Luca Zidane palmed away for a corner-kick.
The Buccaneers still penetrated moments later as another telling attempt followed this time from Karim Kimvuidi, but the defence cleared their lines.
Forward Boitumelo Radiopane could’ve got the opening goal with a free header at the back-post following the water-break, but it was scooped to safety.
Granada missed a golden chance a minute to halftime through a first-time effort in the area from new signing Jose Arnaiz, but goalkeeper Sipho Chaine smothered.
After a goalless first half, Relebohile Mofokeng, Patrick Maswanganyi, Sihle Ndluli, Deano Van Rooyen, Kabelo Dlamini, and Yanela Mbuthuma were summoned from the bench by the Buccaneers.
Pirates’ frustrations up top continued ten minutes in the second half as Mofokeng squandered a first-time effort at the far post off Maswanganyi’s lay-off.
The Soweto giants nearly succumbed to a first-time volley at the back-post from Lucas Boye, but it clattered off the upright.
Pirates snatched the lead ten minutes from time as Maswanganyi charged onto a loose ball in the box to find the bottom-corner with a first-time finish.
Mofokeng made the result safe in added time when he ran in-behind following a through pass and executed comfortably.
The Buccaneers ended their tour of the Spain in style by scoring two goals and grabbing another clean sheet.
Image: Orlando Pirates
Confirmed line-ups:
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Xoki, Seema, Mbokazi, Mashiloane, Selepe, Mbule, Kwayiba, Moremi, Kimvuidi, Radiopane
