Tuks steal three points from Bucs
A late goal from Thabo Mosadi secured University of Pretoria a 1-0 win over Orlando Pirates in an Absa Premiership match at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Buccaneers dominated the match and will feel aggrieved at the result, but their inability to convert pressure into goals was capitalised on by a determined and well-organised AmaTuks team, who have now recorded three successive league victories.
Pirates created an early chance for striker Helder Pelembe, with Khethowakhe Masuku’s seventh-minute free kick finding the Mozambican striker free at the far post but his diving header went wide of the target.
Just before the quarter hour mark Masuku almost caught out Washington Arubi with an effort on goal from a long-range free kick, but the Tuks goalkeeper was able to backpedal and tip the ball over the crossbar.
The visitors dominated the first half, but struggled to create clear-cut chances. On 38 minutes they teed up Oupa Manyisa to shoot on the edge of the box, but the midfielder’s effort deflected off Junior Sibande and flashed just wide of Arubi’s right-hand post.
The half ended with the teams locked at 0-0 and it took nearly 20 minutes of the second stanza before another shot on target arrived. Sifiso Myeni pulled a ball back from the left by-line and substitute Joseph Malongoane got onto it, only to see his effort denied by a good save from Arubi.
Pirates stand-in coach Eric Tinkler (who will relinquish control of the team now that Vladimir Vermezovic has been granted a work permit) was not afraid to ring the changes in an effort to spruce up his team’s attack, throwing on both Kermit Erasmus and Lennox Bacela from the bench.
With just under a quarter hour to play the visitors created a decent opportunity for midfielder Thandani Ntshumayelo, who arrived late to meet a left-wing cross at the far post, but he only succeeded in hitting the side netting.
On 83 minutes Kermit Erasmus had a clear sight of goal but put his left-footed shot over the target. It was a miss Pirates immediately regretted, as AmaTuks went up the other end to score completely against the run of play.
A long ball from Arubi’s goal kick was flicked on by Mpho Matsi and Thabo Mosadi beat Meyiwa to the ball with a neat touch that sent the ball skipping into the vacant net, handing University of Pretoria a shock win.
Orlando Pirates 0
University of Pretoria (0) 1 (Mosadi 84’)
Pirates: Meyiwa, Jele, Nyauza, Gcaba, Matlaba, Ntshumayelo, Makola, Manyisa, Myeni (Erasmus 70’), Masuku (Malongoane 62’), Pelembe (Bacela 75’)
U Pretoria: Arubi, Ngubane (Mathosi 56’), Kekana, Mkhwanazi, Sibande, Ketjijere, Shoyisa, Mosadi, Matsi, Monama (Maruping 69’), Mnyamane (Zwane 82’)
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