Orlando Pirates secured an impressive 3-0 win over Chippa United in Betway Premiership action on Sunday afternoon at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Pirates provided three changes from the midweek win over Orbit College, with Thabiso Lebitso, Thalente Mbatha and Evidence Makgopa recalled to the starting line-up.
The Buccaneers hit the opener on ten minutes when Patrick Maswanganyi latched on a through pass to find the bottom corner after Chippa tried to play out from the back.
Maswanganyi could’ve helped himself to a second goal two minutes later after meeting a lay-off by Oswin Appollis following an error by Nathan Fasika, but goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali made a good save.
Chippa began to settle after the slow start and pushed numbers in the forward areas, but for all their endeavour, they didn’t test goalkeeper Sipho Chaine.
Pirates eventually extended the lead five minutes to the break when Appollis intercepted a loose pass and teed-up Deon Hotto to fire in at the near post amidst the efforts of Nwabali.
The Chilli Boys made a double substitution ahead of the second period as Boy Madingwane came in for Xolani Sithole and Thamsanqa Magwaza replaced Thulani Mini.
Pirates got a chance to grab a third goal with a penalty by following a foul on Makgopa, but Maswanganyi was denied by Nwabali from 12-yards out, while the replays showed the contact was made outside of the box.
The Buccaneers still enjoyed the lion share of chances as Appollis collected a low pass and pushed forward to fire off the upright.
Appollis didn’t stop causing problems after he ran onto a long ball from Mbatha before releasing substitute Tshepang Moremi, who fired in his first goal for the club.
Chippa were completely out of sight at this stage and didn’t pose the Buccaneers any problem whatsoever, as the Soweto giants climb up to fifth spot on the table.
Confirmed line-ups:
Chippa United: Nwabali, Kammies, Fasika, Molaoa, Modise, Seabi, Mfecane, Philander, Sithole, Mini, Figuareido
Subs: Sithole, Ntsundwana, Peters, Magwaza, Tshobeni, Majadibodu, Matrose, Madingwana, Gamaldien
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Seema, Mbokazi, Hotto, Lebitso, Nduli, Mbatha, Maswanganyi, Sebelebele, Appollis, Makgopa
Subs: Buthelezi, Xoki, Ndaba, Shandu, Nemtajela, Mbule, Mofokeng, Moremi, Mabasa
