There was no happy return for Fadlu Davids at Orlando Stadium on Friday evening, as Orlando Pirates defeated Maritzburg United 2-1 to move third on the DStv Premiership table.
DStv Premiership
Result: Orlando Pirates 2-1 Maritzburg United
Date: 17 January 2023
Venue: Orlando Stadium
Pirates made four changes from the Nedbank Cup win over All Stars, as Thembinkosi Lorch made his first start since August alongside recalls for Bandile Shandu, Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo and Innocent Maela.Maritzburg had Buccaneers loanee Kwame Peprah in the starting line-up, while fellow loanee Tebogo Tlolane was only named on the bench.
United allowed the home side to set the tempo of the game but Fadlu Davids' charges had the first chance on seven minutes from a transition attack as Amadou Soukouna unleashed a shot from the edge of the box that sailed narrowly wide.
However, Pirates' first meaningful opening at goal arrived on 36 minutes after Ndlondlo let rip with an effort from distance that flew over the crossbar.
With the game seemingly headed goalless at the interval, Monnapule Saleng broke the deadlock on the stroke of halftime with a low curling shot from the edge of the box that found the bottom corner.
United were fired up in the early exchanges of the second stanza and Rowan Human should have levelled matters just before the hour-mark after a cross by Jooste found him unmarked in the box but he guided a free header wide.
Pirates lacked the fluidity in the last third and they responded with a change, as Lorch made way for Kabelo Dlamini for a different approach.
The move by the Sea Robbers seemed to have paid off as just after Nldondlo was denied by the post with 20 minutes to go, Terrence Dzvukamanja finally doubled their lead with a diving header in the box from Saleng's cross.
Pirates were cruising in the closing stages and could afford to make a couple of substitutions as Cameroonian striker Marou Souaibou was eventually given his debut in the last ten minutes in place of Saleng.
The Team of Choice set up a nervy finish Tumelo Njoti found the back of the net with a superb strike from the edge of the box that gave goalkeeper Sipho Chaine no chance.
However, Pirates took the momentum away from Maritzburg in the closing stages to hold on for maximum points, which takes the Soweto giants up to third spot while Maritzburg remain in 15th position.
Here's how they lined up:
Orlando Pirates: 34. Chaine, 27. Xoki, 23. Maela, 29. Mako, 26. Shandu, 4. Timm, 15. Ndlondlo, 7. Hotto, 3. Lorch, 14. Saleng, 27. Dzvukamanja.
Subs: 40. Mpontshane, 39. Mthethwa, 2. Monyane, 36. Makhuala, 18. Dlamini, 45. Pule, 6. Motshwari, 95. Erasmus, 32. Marou
Maritzburg United: 32. Leaner, 24. Bhengu, 3. De Goede, 28. Palace, 2. Cross, 10. Human, 23. Moloisane, 45. Jooste, 12. Njoti, 11. Soukouna, 46. Peprah
Subs: 31. Ndlovu, 27. Ndengane, 20. Samu, 14. Meza, 5. Makume, 36. Zuma, 26. Kimvuidi, 50. Tlolane, 17. Conco.
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