Pirates secure fourth place
Orlando Pirates came from a goal behind to beat Golden Arrows 3-1 in their last Absa Premiership match of the season at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Bongi Ntuli gave Bucs an early scare as he capitalized from Rooi Mahamutsa’s defensive mistake to give Arrows the lead in the 5th minute of the game.
But goals from Kermit Erasmus, Sifiso Myeni and Mpho Makola were enough to secure Bucs a top-four finish.
Pirates dominated possession but their final pass let them down once again.
Frustrations started to show as Oupa Manyisa had already tried three attempts from range inside the opening 20-minutes but neither could find target or trouble Bartman.
Bucs’ first effort on target came in the 26th minute when Erasmus forced Bartman to dive low to his left.
Initially, Erasmus managed to pull a goal back in the 30th minute after he teamed up with Daine Klate for Bucs’ equalizer.
Klate was once again in the thick of things as his fierce effort forced Bartman to a fantastic save for a corner. The resultant corner saw Mahamutsa rise high, only to send his header over the bar.
In the second half, Bucs showed some menace in their build up play and attack and it wasn’t long before they took the lead.
A nice interchange of passes saw Myeni net Bucs’ second after receiving a well weighed pass from Mpho Makola in the 50th minute.
Makola could have double the lead in the 73rd minute but his poor decision let him down.
He did, however, make amends in the 75th minute as he collected a pass from Erasmus to calmly slot home Bucs’ 3rd and cap of his man of the match performance with a goal in the 75th minute.
Senzo Meyiwa denied Ntuli his second of the game with a heroic penalty save in the 78th minute.
Golden Arrows: (1) 1 (Ntuli 5’)
Orlando Pirates: (1) 3 (Erasmus 30’, Myeni 50’, Makola 75’)
Arrows: Bartman, Zwane, Mathiane, Sibeko, Cele, Bester (Sibiya 53’), Ntuli, Mndungane, Sikhakhane, Mngwengwe (Ntombayithethi 46’), Katongo (Polelo 66’).
Pirates: Meyiwa, Gumede, Matlaba, Lekgwathi, Mahamutsa, Nyauza, Manyisa, Myeni (Masuku 57’), Makola, Erasmus, Klate (Mabena 46’).
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