Orlando Pirates extended their unbeaten run to four matches in the DStv Premiership with a 1-0 win over TS Galaxy on Saturday night.
DStv Premiership
Result: Orlando Pirates 1-0 TS Galaxy
Date: 09 December 2023
Venue: Orlando Stadium
Pirates named the same starting line-up following their win over Moroka Swallows, as Relebohile Mofokeng, Vincent Pule and Patrick Maswanganyi shadowed Evidence Makgopa up top.
Galaxy had a positive start as they pounced on the Buccaneers' errors within the first five minutes but former Rockets goalkeeper Melusi Buthelezi kept the Soweto giants in the game with a double save to deny Lindokuhle Mbatha and Lehlohonolo Mojela from close-range.
Moments later Sphiwe Mahlangu should have also put Galaxy ahead after going through on goal in the box but he scuffed his shot wide under pressure from the recovering defender.
Sead Ramovic's charges paid the price for not taking their chances as Deon Hotto broke the deadlock for Pirates shortly before the half-hour mark with a well executed free-kick that looped over the wall, into the net and left goalkeeper Vasilije Kolak rooted to the ground.
Galaxy committed numbers going forward and were fortunate not to be 2-0 down just before the break after Mofokeng went clear on goal but he was denied by Kolak in a one-on-one.
The Buccaneers were compact at the back coming from the break, as they sat deep in their own half and the Rockets struggled to break them down.
With the game under control, Jose Riveiro made a double change on 65 minutes, as Zakhele Lepasa replaced Makgopa for fresh legs upfront and Kabelo Dlamini came on for Mofokeng in a tactical tweak.
Pirates, however, did not commit numbers going forward and Galaxy took the initiative to attack, with second-half substitute Samir Nurkovic giving them a different dimension upfront.
The Buccaneers, though, had a chance to seal the game five minutes before time from a counter-attack but Dlamini's shot through on goal was blocked just after pulling the trigger.
Galaxy were playing in Pirates' half in the dying minutes but they did not have the quality to open them up and the Buccaneers secured their fourth victory in five matches.
Here's how they lined up:
Orlando Pirates: 35. Buthelezi, 27. Xoki, 49. Ndah, 7. Hotto, 4. Timm, 15. Ndlondlo, 28. Maswanganyi, 45. Pule, 11. Makaringe, 38. Mofokeng, 17. Makgop
Subs: 31. Ofori, 5. Sibisi, 16. Makhaula, 30. Baloni, 14. Saleng, 25. Kimvuidi, 18. Dlamini, 12. Otladisa, 9. Lepasa
TS Galaxy: 32. Kolak, 4. M.Mahlangu, 3. Sanoka, 33. Letsoenyo, 2. Mvelase, 12. Khiba, 20. Vidal, 35. Mbatha, 27. Mojela, 11. S.Mahlangu
Subs: 16. Ntwari, 45. Seema, 9. Nurkovic, 7. Mongae, 8. Mbunjana, 14. Radebe, 19. Rakwena, 30. Mere, 13. Semache
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