Thembinkosi Lorch netted hist first DStv Premiership goal of the season as Orlando Pirates reclaimed second spot with a 2-0 win over Chippa United.
DStv Premiership
Halftime: Chippa United 0-2 Orlando Pirates
Date: 08 April 2023
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Pirates kept the same line-up from their win over Richards Bay, while goalkeeper Sipho Chaine faced his former side for the first time.
The game got off to a frantic start, with Chippa showing nerves at the back but the home side came close to going ahead on 17 minutes after Brooklyn Poggenpoel fired a volley just wide from a cut-back in the box.
The Chilli Boys gained confidence after that but they were picked off on a counter-attack three minutes later after Dlamini finished off a low cross from Saleng in the box with a close-range strike to give Pirates the lead.
Jose Riveiro's charges slowed down the tempo of the game, with patient build-ups but they found a gap seven minutes before the interval after Lorch beat the off-side trap to go clear on goal from Paseka Mako's through ball and fired a low shot in between the legs of shot-stopper Lloyd Kazapua for his first league goal this season.
Kurt Lentjies' men had a good start in the second stanza as Etiosa Ighodaro came close to reducing the deficit ten minutes in with a powerful header that got the best out of Chaine from a cross by Ronaldo Maarman.
However, Chippa lost their steam as Pirates defended with numbers behind the ball and with little attacking intentions, Riveiro eventually withdrew Saleng 21 minutes before time and brought on Deon Hotto to stabilise the midfield.
The Spanish tactician also needed fresh legs upfront with a quarter of an hour to go, as Kermit Erasmus came on for Dzvukamanja.
However, Chippa had the momentum in the dying minutes but they could not progress past Pirates' last line of defence and the Buccaneers were comfortable in the end, as they grinded out a 2-0 win and leapfrogged SuperSport United in second spot on the table with a superior goal difference.
Here's how they lined up:
Chippa United: 1. Kazapua, 2. Mdunyelwa, 4. Banda, 5. Pietersen, 6. Poggenpoel, 14. Mkhize, 15. Pfumbidzai, 23. September, 26. Maphangule, 28. Lebitso, 37. Ighodaro
Subs: 32. Nwabali, 17. Maarman, 20. Mathiane, 3. Ntsabo, 24. Konqobe, 7. Mbenyane, 9. Appollis, 12. Abrahams, 25. Kammies
Orlando Pirates: 34. Chaine, 27. Xoki, 5. Sibisi, 23. Maela, 14. Saleng, 4. Timm, 16. Monare, 29. Mako, 18. Dlamini, 3. Lorch, 37. Dzvukamanja
Subs: 40. Mpontshane, 26. Shandu, 34. Mthethwa, 15. Ndlondlo, 11. Makaringe, 7. Hotto, 17. Makgopa, 95. Erasmus, 38. Ratomo
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