Orlando Pirates suffered their third defeat of the DStv Premiership season after going down 2-0 to Sekhukhune United on Tuesday evening.
DStv Premiership
Result: Sekhukhune United 2-0 Orlando Pirates
Date: 04 October 2022
Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium
Pirates made four changes from their draw against Mamelodi Sundowns, as Tapelo Xoki, Paseka Mako, Thabiso Monyane and Kabelo Dlamini were all recalled. On the other hand, Tshegofatso Mabasa started against his parent club alongside former Buccaneer Linda Mntambo as the hosts looked end their winless run.
The Soweto giants were on the front foot as Zakhele Lepasa had a chance to give them an early lead after a good cross by Mako but he guided his effort over the crossbar.
After absorbing the early pressure, the home side managed to carve out their first chance on 17 minutes after former Pirates defender Edwin Gyimah guided a header from close range over the crossbar.
Babina Noko remained a threat on transitions, as Pirates could not translate their dominance into clear chances and around the half-hour mark Mntambo forced goalkeeper Richard Ofori into a sharp save with a strike from range.
Jose Riveiro's charges had the momentum in the closing phase of the first stanza and Dlamini was presented with a good chance on the stroke of halftime after he was teed up by Lepasa in the box but he could not test goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare after firing wide.
The second stanza got off to a quick start, with end to end attacks as Mntambo came close to breaking the deadlock for the hosts with a low drive from the edge of the box that was parried away by Ofori.
Things turned sour for Pirates just before the hour mark, as they were reduced to ten men after Monyane picked up a second booking for a foul and was given an early shower.
Riveiro reacted with a quadruple change a couple of minutes later to inject fresh legs and get a replacement for Monyane at right wing-back, as Vincent Pule, Deon Hotto, Kermit Erasmus and Bandile Shandu all went in.
The visitors attacked with more vigour after that, as Erasmus came close to giving them the lead in the last 20 minutes with a toe-poked shot that sailed slightly over the crossbar after a cut-back by Hotto.
However, it was Sekhukhune substitute Elias Mokwana who eventually broke the deadlock with a low strike into the bottom corner after he cut inside the box from an offload by Mntambo.
Pirates pushed numbers going forward and Ofori gifted Sekhukhune the second goal after being dispossessed by Vusimuzi Mncube, who did well to fire into an empty net from distance to seal their first-ever win over the Buccaneers.
Here's how they lined up:
Sekhukhune United: 30. Sangare, 2. Mobbie, 36. Ntiya-Ntiya, 4. Cardoso, 39. Gyimah, 18. Seabi, 23. Mntambo, 7. Mncube, 10. Shai, 9. Mabasa, 21. Letsoalo.
Subs: 32. Mtsweni, 27. Mkhabela, 13. Motsepe, 15. Kabwe, 35. Mahlangu, 8. Leepile, 17. Mokwana, 20. Masiya, 14. Makhubu.
Orlando Pirates: 31. Ofori, 27. Xoki, 5. Sibisi, 23. Maela, 20. Mosele, 4. Timm, 29. Mako, 2. Monyane, 15. Ndlondlo, 18. Dlamini, 25. Lepasa
Subs: 40. Mpontshane, 95. Erasmus, 45. Pule, Mthethwa, 26. Shandu, 11. Hotto, 14. Saleng, 12. Makgaka, 6. Motshwari
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