Orlando Pirates forwards Monnapule Saleng and Terrence Dzvukamanja found the net as they beat Maritzburg United 2-1 at Orlando Stadium on Friday eveni
Orlando Pirates forwards Monnapule Saleng and Terrence Dzvukamanja found the net as they beat Maritzburg United 2-1 at Orlando Stadium on Friday evening.
In the perfect conditions to play football under the bright lights of Esgdoni, it was a fixture that promised much, with Fadlu Davids returning, but this time in charge of the Team of Choice.
Tactically flexible and showing a notable turnaround in form since replacing John Maduka it wasn’t going to be a walkover, but Sipho Chaine in goals hardly had to make a save, as the bullish Pirates defence kept the visitors at bay, including loanee Kwame Peprah.
And after several swift counter-attacking sequences led by the livewire Saleng and Thembinkosi Lorch, the former managed to hit the back of the net with a long-range effort that Renaldo Leaner probably could have done better against, as he parried it into the net.
With Jose Riveiro in the stands due to his two-match suspension, which also rules him out of the Soweto Derby next week, he watched on as Pirates then took control of the game in the second half and nearly doubled the lead in the 70th minute when Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo hit the post with a shot just outside the area.
But they didn’t live to regret the opportunity as Terrence Dzvukamanja netted with a diving header from Saleng’s pin-point delivery.
Tumelo Njoti pulled one back for Maritzburg with a fine shot from outside the box in the 84th minute but it was a little too late for the Team of Choice to salvage anything from the game.
The win moves Pirates into the top three, occupying the CAF Confederation Cup qualification spot and one point behind second-placed SuperSport United.
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